Healthier Holiday Snacks

So You Can Party Guilt-Free

- Megan Gilmore

With the holiday season approaching, you may wonder how you can watch your waistline while still indulging in your favorite holiday fare. Try giving your traditional party dishes an upgrade! Use whole-food ingredients, and you might be surprised to find that this won’t sacrifice taste or texture. By focusing on fresh whole foods, you can stop crunching numbers every time you’re ready to pick up your fork. Calorie counting doesn’t take into account the quality of the foods we’re consuming, nor the body’s ability to digest natural foods versus processed ones. Although a small package of cookies might have the same number of calories as an apple, fresh fruit will provide significantly more nutrients, along with enzymes and fiber, making it much more likely to keep you satisfied until your next meal. On the other hand, when you eat those packaged cookies, you’re more likely to feel hungry and deprived, leading to overeating and an endless cycle of yo-yo dieting.

Instead of looking at the calorie count the next time you make a food choice, try thinking about where that food comes from. Is it in its natural state? How many ingredients does it contain? Do you recognize all of those ingredients? Better yet, choose a food without a label at all. By adopting a diet rich in fresh foods, you’ll soon find yourself naturally satisfied, and maintaining your ideal weight—without the need for a calculator. I can’t think of a better way to kick-off the fall season!