By Emily Barr, MS,RD,CNSC –

Holiday gatherings bring out the best cookbooks filled with cheesy, oh-so-savory appetizers, creamed casseroles, and ooey-gooey desserts. By preparing these high fat, sodium, and sugar filled recipes, we are committing seasonal sabotage. And worse of all, we are committing it against our favorite people – our beloved family and friends.

Take a new approach to your holiday cooking this year…HEALTH!

Follow these 2 tips to  keep your holiday sabotage free:

1.) When choosing your recipes for your merry meal, look for dishes that are made with fresh foods. Great choices include Brussel sprouts, spinach salad, roasted sweet potatoes and apples, asparagus, broccoli, and fruit salads.

2.) Look for recipes using healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, canola oil, and nuts. If the recipe calls for butter, try substituting it for a healthy oil based margarine such as Smart Balance. If one of the ingredients is cheese, opt for a 2% or low-fat cheese to reduce the saturated fat.

Take pride in making healthy holiday dishes. Modified recipes will still taste delicious when in the company of a healthy happy family!

 WANT MORE?

Check out this previous post Emily wrote about how to avoid holiday weight gain, “Fighting the Urge to Splurge“.

If you listen to the commercials that encourage you to buy the latest and greatest, you might be persuaded to believe that it’s not the thought,  but the brand  that matters.  We’re here to restore a little sanity and bring the gift giving season back to the thought and heart of the matter.

By Thomas Hawk

Unfortunately, limited financial resources have had a shrinking effect on our annual gift giving lists. Even with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday, it seems financially impossible to give to each person that positively impacts our life. 

 So how do we expand our giving without overextending our bank accounts?

One idea is – give gifts that don’t have any quantifiable value. That’s right! Gifts that don’t come with a per person price tag (or a tag at all). The biggest gift of all being YOU!

Looking for some ideas? Think extended warranty.  Give gifts that have long-term benefits and help fulfill a specific need.

Are you a great cook? Put together a list of healthy recipes and email them to friends. Start an annual tradition of sharing recipes.  
 

Are you a great listener with a positive outlook on life? Create a small support group among friends. 

Do you live a healthy lifestyle?  Be an accountability ally for a friend that wants to make healthier choices.  Be a walking buddy or healthy dining partner.

Have your family and friends asked (or begged) you to take the steps needed to improve your health?  Take the plunge. Put a bag of coins in each person’s stocking and tell them that you’re ready for change.

The point is, don’t let finances dictate your gift giving this year. Great creative. Redefine gift giving. Always remember, YOU are the greatest gift you can give.