Delicious Healthy Foods Swaps For The Holidays

By Author: Rachel Blindauer
Total Articles: 32
Comment this article

The holidays are a great time to celebrate with family and friends. But it can also mean weight gain for some people. While it's true that you might gain weight during the holidays if you're not careful, there are ways to keep yourself on the right path this holiday season and beyond. To prevent significant weight gain, try making some of these 5 food swaps to make your favorite foods healthier and tastier.

Tips for Healthy Food Swaps During the Holidays

The food swaps I mention below are things you can do to modify recipes. Analyze which ingredients you are willing to adjust and which ones are non-negotiable.
The point of modifying recipes is to make the same dish but with a different nutritional value. In the end, even if you swap all the ingredients and make this perfect low-calorie meal but you don’t like it, then what is the point?
Remember that a balanced meal can have some foods high in calories (like butter). Again, the problem relies upon the quantity and the frequency.
5 Healthy Foods Swaps
1. Cauliflower ...
... vs. Mashed Potatoes
Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? They are creamy, buttery, and just a spoonful of goodness. However, they are high in simple carbs and butter, a dangerous combination that can create high sugar levels and promote weight gain.
Next time, instead of having mashed potatoes switch them to mashed cauliflower. You can still add some butter (or ghee) to the mix, but by replacing the potatoes, which are high in carbs and low in calories, you can create a lower-calorie dish.
In the end, this allows you to save your carbs for another dish instead of the mashed potatoes.
Now, if you are not a big fan of making cauliflower mashed potatoes, you can mix them up. Try having half the mashed cauliflower recipe with half the regular mashed potatoes. Again, this can be a better option since it can reduce the calories by half.

2. Greek Yogurt vs. Sour Cream
Sour cream is an excellent addition to many meals. For example, you can have it on top of a baked potato. However, sour cream is high in calories and high in saturated fats. Those you want to consume in moderation since they might increase the risk of heart disease.
Instead of having sour cream try replacing it with Greek yogurt. They have a similar consistency and taste. But Greek yogurt is lower in calories and higher in protein. Protein can help increase your fullness levels allowing you to reduce the portions, and it can slightly boost your metabolism.

3. Zucchini Noodles vs. Pasta
Chicken soup or a pasta dish is always something you can find over the holidays, especially in cold weather. Replacing the noodles with zucchini (or spaghetti squash noodles) can help you reduce your carb intake and increase your nutrient intake.
It can also greatly aid those following a ketogenic diet or those following a gluten-free diet. Either way, it can help you save some calories and carbs.

4. Medjool Dates vs. Sugar
The best way to reduce sugar intake is to replace it with nature’s natural sweetener, dates. Medjool dates are an excellent way to reduce your simple sugar intake. They have a caramel flavor that will add flavor to your favorite sweet recipes.
One of the benefits of dates is that since they are high in fiber, they won’t spike your sugar levels.
You can even make a caramel sauce using dates. The process is simple.
Boil the dates for 10-15 minutes. Add the dates and a couple of tablespoons of the water you cook them into a food processor. Add some coconut oil and vanilla. Make sure to avoid cooking them hot. Otherwise, they might explode. You can add more water if you want a more liquid consistency.

5. Baked Apple vs. Apple Pie
Finally, baked goods are a great way of reducing the oil or sugar content.
For example, instead of having apple pie high in sugar and fat, opt for baked apples. Add some sugar sweetener like stevia or monk fruit, some cinnamon, and vanilla, and you have a delicious treat that is lower in calories.
Source- https://frezzor.com/blogs/news/

Health & Fitness Writer read more articles- https://turnernewzealand.com/