Staying Healthy this Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving being behind us and more holidays to come, it can be very hard (but quite delicious) to take one too many bites of the holiday delicacies. But let’s stay focused this winter by eating delicious healthy foods that will promote a healthy diet in a filling way.

Check out these quick and easy tips to eating healthy from Health Castle.com:

  1. Eat high-quality carbs
    Listen to your cravings – there is a reason for them! In the winter, with fewer sunny hours, your stored serotonin (the “feel-good” brain chemical) starts to decline. Your cravings for carbohydrate-loaded comfort foods are your body’s cries for more serotonin. But be careful when choosing carbohydrates to boost serotonin! Opt for nutritious whole grains and choose high-quality carbs such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and squashes.
  2. Love seasonal produce
    Winter produce may not be as exciting and colorful as summer berries, but there are still many healthy choices available. Work seasonal produce such aspomegranates, cranberries, citrus fruits, purple grapes, and orange root vegetables into your meals. You’ll not only add color to your plate, you’ll pack in some serious nutrition punch.
  3. Consider Vitamin D supplements
    If you live in the northern hemisphere or wear sunscreen all the time, consider takingVitamin D supplements. Numerous studies have shown that oral intake of 1000 IU Vitamin D can reduce the risk of colon, breast, and ovarian cancers by as much as 50 percent. Vitamin D can be found in fortified dairy products, fatty fish, and egg yolks. But reaching the recommended level through food alone is rather difficult. Therefore, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends that all adults take Vitamin D supplements every day during the fall and winter seasons. Be sure to speak to your doctor before starting any supplementation.
  4. Nourish your cold
    Despite numerous claims you may have heard, no diet remedy or supplement has scientifically proved effective at preventing cold and flu. However, studies have shown that 1,000 mg of Vitamin C supplements may make your cold milder and shorten it by half a day. In addition, there’s a promising perk for yogurt lovers! A German study found that probiotics (as found in yogurt with active culture) may shorten your cold episode by almost two days. So keep on eating those “friendly” bugs!

With the cold air, regardless of the holiday gatherings, comfort foods are often the go-to for a nice ending to a cold day. Try some of these healthy comfort food recipes we found on EatingWell.com! They are sure to hit the spot when you have one of those cravings!

Baked Mac & Cheese

Chicken Pot Pie

Meatloaf

Chicken-Fried Steak and Gravy

Do you have similar healthy recipes? Share them on our Facebook page!

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