Eating healthy can sometimes be challenging during the busy holiday season. You don’t have to become a fitness or wellness coach to know that eating healthy provides you with benefits not only during the busy holidays, but all year long too. Here are some healthy ideas to incorporate into your holiday snacks to make them healthier and to add more nutritional benefits:
1. Enjoy the seasonal produce. Fall and winter provide a new harvest of colorful fruits and vegetables to enjoy. Take advantage of the season’s harvest to enjoy fresh produce. Add a handful of fresh cranberries to your pancake and muffin batters or add them to your smoothie. Cranberries also mix in well with cereal and homemade jams.
2. Pumpkin is in abundance during the holidays! Pumpkin is full of benefits including fiber and antioxidants. You can mix pumpkin with a little cream cheese to make a creamy spread and dip for raw veggies, apples, or crackers.
3. Nuts are another healthy way to snack and enjoy the season. Articles on health and wellness boast eating nuts on a regular basis for their high fiber and protein content. Diets which are high in fiber can help reduce your risk of heart disease and can help lower cholesterol levels as well. Certified weight loss coaches encourage healthy snacks such as nuts as part of a healthy lifestyle. Nuts can be snacked on by themselves or added to other foods such as cereals and oatmeal to help increase the nutritional value of those meals.
4. Make your own chips! If you are a chip lover, you can make your own healthy version of chips. Take a sweet potato and slice it very thin. Place on a roasting pan and drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt if desired. Roast at 400 degrees for thirty minutes for a crispy and tasty chip! You can do this with all different types of potatoes for variance in texture and color.
5. Use hummus as a dip! Dip your veggies or pita chips into hummus for a healthy treat. Hummus is made up of mashed chickpeas and olive oil. Hummus and chickpeas offer a good source of fiber in addition to other nutrients including folate, potassium, iron, and magnesium.
Incorporating healthy snacks into your diet during the busy holiday season doesn’t need to be stressful or difficult. Simple changes or modifications can be made to help you reach or maintain your wellness goals. The benefits of healthy living are seen in both diet and fitness for a healthier version of you!
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