Healthy and Tasty Holiday Treats!

Eating during the holiday season often involves unhealthy snacks and treats that add to the waistline and are low in nutritional value. The following recipes should help families to keep from gaining extra holiday weight as well as become more nutritionally fit! There are several holiday foods that are actually quite healthy on their own. Pumpkin, for example, is rich in Vitamin A and fiber. The seeds of pumpkin are also high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids which help the body to properly absorb and digest fats and other nutrients. Pumpkin is also low in calories and healthy. The pie which requires pumpkins, however, is not so healthy. However, by substituting things like egg substitutes, low-fat cream or evaporated milk and pie crust that is sugar free or made without shortening. Also, pumpkin can be used as a substitute in cake mixes. That's right, try making cupcakes or cakes with a can of pumpkin instead of eggs and oil. The result is a similar consistency with much less fat. Cranberries are also one holiday food that is quite healthy on their own. They are concentrated with Vitamin C which is especially great during flu and cold season. Cranberries are also a great topping for fat free yogurt or sugar free frozen yogurt. Cranberries are also high in antioxidants which can help to prevent urinary tract infections.
Sweet potatoes also offer plenty of health benefits. They are also high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene which helps with vision. Sweet potatoes are also high in potassium. The skin of sweet potatoes is also high in fiber which helps the body to digest food properly. Turkey is also a healthy food with a rich source of protein and the least amount of fat per serving amongst other meats. The trick with turkey is to be sure to pass on the skin and enjoy the white meat. Also, avoid gravy; turkey has enough natural flavor and juices of its own to be quite tasty. Green beans are another holiday food that is extremely healthy. They contain high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. They also contain vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, folate and iron. In order to make that famous green bean casserole a little healthier, just substitute with low-fat butter, fat free cream of mushroom soup and low-fat cheese. Another great recipe is Kraft's Hot Artichoke dip. This is a great appetizer for parties and pot-lucks. Just take Philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese (3 cups) and 2 cups of canned artichoke hearts drained and chopped. Add 1 and a half cups of light mayonnaise, 1 qt of grated Parmesan cheese, 2TB of dried basil, 4 cloves of minced garlic, and 2 cups of seeded and finely chopped tomatoes. Mix it all up with an electric mixer and spoon it onto a sliced baguette or another choice of hard bread. Or, save the dip and let the gifts spoon it on themselves. Artichokes are very heart healthy and all the other ingredients have been carefully selected for their health value. Another easy holiday recipe is a Jell-O Berry Gelatin salad. Simply dissolve a box of sugar free Cherry JELL-O in 2 Liters of boiling water. Add 2 Liters of whole berry cranberry sauce. This can also be sugar free. The Gelatin then needs to be refrigerated for 20 minutes or until the mixture is cooled but not set. Add 2 cups of light sour cream and stir with a wire whisk until the gelatin mixture is thoroughly blended. Then add 7 cups of crushed pineapple in juice, well drained. Stir in 1 cup of chopped walnuts, or almonds for the additional health benefits and refrigerate for 6 hours. This JELL-O salad will definitely delight guests and it is healthy. The salad can also include chopped apples, raisins and dates. Another delicious and low-fat holiday treat is Kraft's Baked Pear Cheesecake. Simply purchase a sugar free graham cracker crumb crust. Arrange thinly sliced pears (2) in a single layer over the crust. Beat a package of Neufchatel cheese in a large mixture until it is creamy (for about 1 minute with a paddle). Then add ½ cup of brown sugar and beat until well blended. Add 1 cup of light sour cream, 1 TB of cornstarch and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Once it is well blended add 3 eggs, one at a time to the mixture. Pour the filling over pears on the crust. Top the dish with slivered almonds (about ¼ of a cup). This needs to bake for about 1 hour in a 325 degree oven. It will then need to be refrigerated 4 hours or overnight. This delicious dessert is also healthy and easy. It may just become a family tradition around the holidays!