season's HEALTHY EATINGS

Each of these delicious holiday treats has a good-for-you bonus.

- Alyssa Jung

It's the most wonderful time of the year... to eat! And we're here to tell you that you don't have to "healthify" everything (hooray!), so there's definitely no need to add ground kale or mashed chickpeas to your Christmas cookie recipes. "For holiday eating, my approach is, simply enjoy the foods you love," says culinary and integrative dietitian Marisa Moore, R.D.N. "Holidays come with a variety of flavors that some of us wait all year to eat." Holiday faves are yummy and nostalgic, and though most don't fall into the health food category, there's still reason to celebrate-some go-tos offer surprising wellness benefits. So go ahead and nosh on these picks to your holiday heart's content.

spread cheer 

Spending quality time with loved ones warms the heart-and is good for it too. Social interaction has been shown to support overall physical health.

1 Stuffing

Whether you call it dressing or stuffing this side dish is more than just a classic. It's sometimes made with cornbread, which contains more vitamins and minerals than bread made from white flour. In the South, it often features oysters, and it always stars a variety of veggies.

2 Roasted chestnuts