Healthy eating during the holidays might look a bit different than it does for the rest of the year. Why, you ask? During the holidays, we are invited to more eating events with family, friends, and coworkers.  We often see a wide array of dishes that bring back happy memories and make us crave the comfort that comes with holiday food. Whatever you celebrate this time of year, let’s focus on ideas to help you enjoy your favorite dishes without going overboard.  

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t make substitutions for certain foods. I have a family favorite cheesecake which my family has made clear they don’t want the recipe changed. I no longer stray from the cheesecake recipe.  This doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the fat and sugar from other foods, though and still have a great holiday gathering. In most cases, your family won’t notice slight changes in your usual recipes, especially the ones you only make once or twice a year.  

Savory and Simple

Embrace winter foods that can be healthy, sweet, and savory. My household loves butternut squash, and we keep it simple.  Cut it in half, remove the seeds, score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern, then add butter and black pepper. Bake it at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes. Prep and cooking are simple processes, while the flavor can be both sweet and savory. Here are a few other ideas for simple seasonal light dishes. During the winter months, half a squash paired with a simple dark green salad is all you need for a filling meal.  

For my friends who celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, I offer these healthy food options for your holiday season. The smoked salmon latkes and smoked brisket look wonderful and are great additions for your holiday gathering. Remember, the holidays are about savoring the moments with the people you cherish along with the flavors of Hanukkah. If you have leftover latkes and brisket, they can be the basis for another meal.  

Sharing is Caring

During the holidays, everyone bakes sweet treats and shares them. If you receive gifts of cookies or other treats keep in mind that you don’t have to eat them all at once. For the most part, you won’t break your diet or healthy eating habits by enjoying a sweet treat.  You can share them with family and friends or even freeze them to enjoy later. Think of it as spreading out the holiday cheer and not your waistline or increasing your chronic disease risk. 

Tufts Medicine offers eight tips for healthy holiday eating that are simple, go-to advice, which I’ve been offering and following for years. One that I use (not listed in this article) is: anytime there is a buffet and several options, I take a small spoonful of all foods offered, then determine which one or two  I want more of and go back for them. By doing that, I’m not locked into any dish I don’t truly want, and if anyone asks, I tried their dish.  

The holidays shouldn’t make or break our health. We should be able to enjoy some traditional holiday foods by using common sense and giving ourselves some grace. Remember that cheesecake I talked about? Well, size and portions matter there. By cutting it into small sizes, there is more to enjoy all through the holiday season, which includes the new year. Leftover cheesecake can be frozen and thawed for the Valentine‘s holiday, but I’m getting ahead of myself.  

Happy Holidays and enjoy time with those you care about.