Holidays bring rich foods, creamy eggnogs and no surprise, weight gain.
Why do celebrations seemingly call for high caloric, high-fat goodies when healthy foods can be just as exotic and delicious? This year try to think outside of the traditional box when it comes to festive dinners and tasty food gifts.
Here are some ideas for lightening up the festivities:
Appetizers and other
- Serve fermented cheeses along with raw vegetables to serve as prebiotics.
- Substitute whole milk yogurt instead of sour cream or cream in dips, sauces, pies and casseroles.
- Steam vegetables instead of putting them in casseroles.
- Serve kimchi for an international probiotic dish
- Bake or grill sweet potatoes with olive oil and herbs
- Use buttermilk in place of whole milk in recipes.
- Instead of buttery cakes and pies, offer trifles laced with yogurt, honey and nuts.
- Fresh sauerkraut is a must on New Years’s Day in some cultures–try it.
Gifts
- Nuts! Yummy and full of protein, healthy fats and minerals.
- Dried fruits, found in your local supermarket: apricots, dates, figs, pineapple and mango make a colorful and high fiber display. Dip in chocolate-dark, milk and white—for a flavonoid boost.
- Tuck a bottle of probiotics in stockings.
- Buy a yogurt or kefir starter and package it with a thermometer and recipe.
- Enroll someone in a kombucha-making class.
- Gift a book: Microbes are made easy (or at least less difficult) with dozens of new books on the market.
- Use creative bags and boxes or tins. Wrap with a beautiful ribbon.
Your loved ones will thank you for your thoughtful gift of health.