Healthy Holiday Eating Guide
Nutritionist Jennifer Andrus shares her tips.
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Nutritionist and Eat2bFit founder Jennifer Andrus says eating healthy this holiday season doesn’t have to feel like a jail sentence. Here’s how you can do it. - “Macaroni and cheese is probably the toughest to swap out. Certainly you could use a whole wheat version and use low-fat cheese and less butter when you’re making it,” Andrus tells BET.com. Check out magazines like Cooking Light to find ideas for tasty, waistline-friendly makeover recipes. (Photo: Courtesy Cooking Light Magazine)
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Turkey Tips - You can eat turkey without guilt so long as you avoid the skin, the bird’s most caloric element. “Skipping the skin and sticking to the white meat is ideal, but even if it’s dark meat, turkey is quite lean,” Andrus says.(Photo: Courtesy Cooking Light Magazine)
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Go for Fiber - "You can still enjoy favorites like mashed potatoes, but add some health benefits by leaving the skin on when you serve them. “The skin is where the nutrients and the fiber is. It saves a lot of work, too!” (Photo: Courtesy Food Network)
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Be Picky - When eying a buffet of stuffing, rolls and other starchy treats, proceed with caution, Andrus says, as they are often full of calories. “Just take a small taste of each of those or choose the one that you really love and then have a decent portion of that,” she says. “I think that’s where people get into the most trouble. They end up with a 2,000 calorie plate.”(Photo: Courtesy meatlessmonday.com)
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Focus on “Free Vegetables” - Fill half your plate with nutritious veggies that add very little to your calories intake—“Things like salad or Brussels sprouts or green beans” Andrus says. Eating veggies as your first helping will help you feel full, which helps you cut back on starches or sweets.(Photo: Courtesy Food Network)
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Bring Back-Up - If you’re going to someone else’s house for a holiday meal, Andrus suggests bringing a raw veggie plate to ensure there is something healthy to eat before digging into any holiday treats.(Photo: Getty Images)
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Go Easy on the Alcohol - “It’s a good idea to skip any of the mixed drinks. It’s better to stick to wine, light beer or a straight alcohol,” Andrus says. “It’s the mixer in the drink that has the empty calories that add up.”(Photo: David Silverman/Getty Images)