Healthy Holiday Meals

Healthy Holiday Meals

By Amy Paturel
Overstuffed Spread

According to the National Institutes of Health, pounds packed on during the holidays account for half of all weight gained annually. Don't let a few weeks of holiday gatherings undo a year's worth of dieting. Check out these lighter options to traditional holiday dishes and enjoy yourself without going overboard.

Apple Cider Beats Eggnog

Six fluid ounces of eggnog without alcohol has 258 calories and 14 grams of fat (more than a Snickers bar), while the same amount of apple cider has only 90 calories and no fat. It's a no-brainer! If you can't forgo the eggnog, consider a reduced-fat version.

Veggies and Hummus Top Chips and Dip

Veggies and hummus are lower in fat and calories than your typical chip-and-dip (or cheese-and-cracker). Plus, they're full of fiber, which helps stave off hunger and keeps you satisfied.

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Shrimp Cocktail Is a Winner

Whenever you have to choose between deep-fried anything and simple, cold fish, the latter is almost always healthier. Three ounces of shrimp have just 90 calories, but if they're fried, the same amount packs more than 200 calories.

Turkey Breast Is Your Best Bet

In addition to being an excellent source of protein, turkey offers the least amount of fat per serving, among all other meats, if you pass on the skin. Four ounces of turkey breast sans skin is just 152 calories and almost no fat compared to 236 calories and 12 grams of fat in a skin-on drumstick.

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Cranberries Make a Good Sauce

Spoon cranberry sauce over turkey and stuffing instead of meat-based gravy. Cranberries are packed with vitamin C and also provide a fair amount of dietary fiber, so you can protect yourself from an impending cold and fill up at the same time.

Baked Sweet Potatoes Are a Smart Side

Baked sweet potatoes are lower in calories and fat than buttery mashed potatoes or candied yams. Plus, they're rich sources of antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and beta-carotene. And if you eat the skin, you'll reap some fiber benefits, too. Just slice them in half, brush lightly with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and bake.

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Green Beans Minus the Casserole

Enjoy green beans steamed with garlic, or for a lower-fat version of the traditional casserole (you know, the one full of butter, cream, cheese and fried onion strings), use fat-free cream of mushroom soup and go light on the butter. All the yum and none of the guilt.

Champagne Is Choice

At just 100 calories, a glass of champagne will do much less damage than a hot toddy, which weighs in at 200 calories -- and that's before the whipped cream. Just keep in mind that after one or two glasses of champagne, you may be more likely to say yes to that pecan pie.

Pass Up the Pecan Pie For Pumpkin

A slice of pecan pie has about 400 calories and pumpkin pie has about half that. You can cut the calories in your pumpkin pie even more by using an egg substitute, low-fat evaporated milk and a sugar alternative like Splenda.