This time of the year is littered with Holiday get-togethers and large family dinners, all of which undoubtedly include a slew of tasty, yet very unhealthy, dishes. Between catching up, playing games, or simply making small talk it’s very easy to continue to eat and eat. With that in mind, here are 5 common Holiday foods to avoid or eat sparingly this season:- Swedish Meatballs: While calories will vary depending on the way they were prepared, a typical serving will be in the range of 250 calories, but the bad news is that around 60% of those calories come from fat, even in the healthier versions!
- Spinach & Artichoke Dip: Ok so this one might actually be one to avoid all year round. This may be one of the worst snacking foods ever, due to its heavy cream base. A typical serving in a small bowl that you would get at a restaurant has almost 1600 calories and 105 grams of fat!! And that doesn’t even include the chips!
- Eggnog: Ok so a nice refreshing cup of eggnog during the Holidays is something many people look forward to, but at over 300 calories a cup, 20 grams of fat, and 150 milligrams of cholesterol this is one dangerous drink! Probably best to opt for the lighter versions or make it yourself.
- Pie: You had to know this one was going to be on the list. Come on, it screams sugar and fat. The worst culprit of them all? Pecan pie, touting 500 calories a slice, 37 grams of fat, and 26 grams of sugar per slice. And really, do you ever just have 1 slice? While still not the best the better choice may be Pumpkin pie, which is around 300 calories and 14 grams of fat per slice.
- Fudge: While I’m sure by now you’re screaming for this to end, yes fudge has made our list as well. A small block of fudge will typically run you around 200 calories and 22 grams of sugar. While we agree it’s a decadent treat, it can spell disaster for your waistline if you can’t limit yourself.
Now it wouldn’t be fair to bring you down like this if we didn’t at least point out some of the healthier choices for the holidays. Here are 3 quick go-to items that won’t have you regretting your holiday meal:
- Salsa: Salsa is very low calorie, about 10 calories per quarter cup. Again this doesn’t include chips, but that’s still a smarter choice than the spinach and artichoke dip!
- Veggies and Ranch: Ok so you probably saw this one coming too, but come on, of course veggies are a safe bet. Even with a little ranch to give it some flavor.
- Shrimp Cocktail: Low in fat and a good source of protein means you can indulge a little bit more. A 6 shrimp cocktail (with sauce) has about 120 calories per serving and only a little more than 1 gram of fat. Not bad right?!
No matter what your Holiday party plans include, one thing rings true – there is bound to be something there that will tempt you to splurge a little too much. Have fun, indulge a little, but remember that your body doesn’t care if it’s a Holiday. Calories are calories and they will be stored somewhere!
Between catching up, playing games, or simply making small talk it’s very easy to continue to eat and eat. With that in mind, here are 5common Holiday foods to avoid or eat sparingly.
This time of year is littered with Holiday get-togethers and large family dinners, all of which undoubtedly include a slew of tasty, yet very unhealthy, dishes. Between catching up, playing games, or simply making small talk it’s very easy to continue to eat and eat. With that in mind, here are 5 common Holiday foods to avoid o
This time of year is littered with Holiday get-togethers and large family dinners, all of which undoubtedly include a slew of tasty, yet very unhealthy, dishes. Between catching up, playing games, or simply making small talk it’s very easy to continue to eat and eat. With that in mind, here are 5 common Holiday foods to avoid or eat sparingly this season: