Adventure 212 Bistro
The Holiday season can be a double-edge sword. We all get to spend a little more time with family and friends, but our quality time spent together usually means we dread gaining the Holiday fifteen. Bistro 212 has a few helpful tips that can assist you in maintaining your current weight throughout the Holiday season. We share ideas that have helped us and others on how to cook a little healthier, chose a bit wiser and plan fun activities that will ward off extra pounds while promoting Holiday cheer!
Tips to Choosing Healthier Fare from a Typical Holiday Buffet
1. Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Filling your stomach with fat-free, fibrous foods like fresh or cooked veggies will fill your stomach without extra calories.
2. Don’t skip meals. Skipping meals on a day you attend a Holiday dinner will most likely lead someone to over eat or even over indulge. Snack throughout the day on fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy products to keep you feeling full.
3. Eat until you are satisfied. Eating to the point of not feeling hungry anymore will allow you to eat less throughout the day, thus taking in fewer calories and keeping off unwanted body weight.
4. Monitor alcoholic beverages. Alcohol contains the most calories per gram than any other food. Carbohydrates are a cool 4 grams/kcal of food, while fat is 7 grams/kcal and alcohol is 9 grams/kcal. Alcohol contains double the amount of energy (calories) than carbohydrates.
Tips to Cook Holiday Food Healthier
1. Use low fat dairy products. Using skim milk, non-fat evaporated milk in pies and low fat cheeses will help ward off extra calories.
2. Substitute with egg whites. Egg whites can be used in replacement to a whole egg in baking and cooking Sunday breakfasts. Anytime a recipe calls for eggs, you can replace half of all of the eggs with only the whites saving you from extra fat and cholesterol.
3. Pumpkin Pies. Using non-fat evaporated milk in pumpkin pies is an easy way to reduce the calorie density of the pie without compromising flavor!
4. Use fresh berries & powdered sugar. When baking for the Holiday Season, use fresh berries either inside or on top of baked goods as a frosting replacement. Not only would you be cutting out extra sugar and fat, but you would be promoting health through vitamin and mineral-rich fruits!
