Creating a fit and healthy Holiday Season

Try one of these low calorie alterations for cranberry sauce:

Cranberry sauce
Option 1 
Yield: 6 servings

• 1 Apple;
• 1 Navel orange; peeled
• 2c Fresh or frozen cranberries;
• ½ts Ground coriander;
• 2pk Equal sweetener (4 tsp);

Shred the apple in a food processor or with a hand grater. Quarter the orange and combine with the cranberries in a food processor or food grinder. Process until coarsely chopped. Blend the apples, cranberry mixture, coriander, and sweetener together. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 1/2 cup serving - 39 calories, 1/2 fruit exchange 10 grams carbohydrate, 0 pro, 0 fat, 0 sodium, 88 potassium, 0 cholesterol. Source: Am. Diabetes Assoc. Holiday Cookbook

Option 2

Heat ¼ cup sugar in a sauté pan over medium heat until golden. Add 1 lime and orange- diced, skin and all- and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger, 1 cinnamon stick and 6 cloves. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat. Add a 1-pound bag of cranberries, cooking until they begin to pop. Cool and refrigerate.

Other variations for popular Thanksgiving foods:

Stuffing:

Add in extra fillers like celery, onions, apples and raisings. Choose low sodium broth instead of butter too! By doing this, you’ll reduce nearly 200 calories in a ½ cup serving!!

Gravy: A typical serving of gravy from the turkey drippings has over 200 calories. If you choose the all-natural turkey gravy from Whole foods or Target, you can enjoy a yummy variation at only 35kcals!

Vegetables:Instead of pouring olive oil on your veggies, purchase a “miso” sprayer and lightly spritz extra virgin olive oil on your veggies…you can save over 100 kcals per serving! 

Additional helpful hints to keep the pounds away during the holiday season:

·          Take a 30 minute walk after dinner…this will help you digest the food and you won’t be so             quick to grab the desserts and continue the eating frenzy!

• Bring a low cal appetizer or salad that you can have to support your goals
• Consider a turkey trot 5 or 10K for charity the morning of Thanksgiving
• If at a party, fill a plate with appetizers rather than standing and munching…this will give you a reality check on how much you are really eating!
• Discriminate which foods you will eat…don’t waste your calories on every day fare. Choose the foods which you might not try again any time soon.
• Be aware that nuts and cheeses are loaded with calories. Choose veggies over the higher calorie foods.
• Although you will be busy during this season; create a rule…never let 3 days go by without exercising…keep your hard earned habit going!
• Make the holidays about family, friends, and socializing; not about food!
• Enjoy the beauty of the season and be Thankful~ for everything you can enjoy!

For more information about fitness and nutritional programs and help during the holidays, please contact Body Firm @ tammy@mybodyfirm.com or visit our web site @ www.mybodyfirm.com.