How to Cook Healthy this Holiday Season
The winter months often bring a decrease in healthy eating habits. Heavy and high fat foods, also known as comfort foods, are very relaxing during the colder months. Fresh fruits and vegetables are more difficult to come by. You also have an increase in holiday parties which are full of fattening foods and multiple dessert sweets full of sugar. The winter does not mean that you have to give up entirely on healthy eating. These unique ways will help you improve your winter eating habits.
Find a local supplier of fruits and vegetables
It might take more effort to locate fresh fruits and vegetables, but there are usually some retailers that still provide this, even during the winter months. You might have to make an extra grocery shopping trip, but the added health benefits are worth it. Also, because you are purchasing fewer fruits and vegetables, make sure you are purchasing the items that have the most health benefits. Organic micro greens, for example, are an extremely healthy option that you can add to most meals.
Use alternative ingredients for healthier desserts
Desserts are one of the best parts of holiday parties. People break out their baking skills and soon the office is full of cookies, cakes, and pies. If you are in charge of making some of these party sweets, using alternative ingredients can make the item healthier. Using edible candy flowers that are made out of organic micro greens are just one of the options. Partygoers will enjoy the edible flowers and won?t even be able to tell the difference that it is healthy.
Serve salads and fresh fruits as a dinner side
You can still consume your favorite comfort foods of turkey, stew, and chili while also increasing your fruit and vegetable intake. Instead of serving mashed potatoes or noodles as a side, swap in a green salad full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Adding microgreens to salads can also increase the health factor. Organic micro greens are usually rated on a scale ranged from 1, poor to 5, excellent. A marketability threshold is 3 and up on the visual scale. A rating of less than three designates an unmarketable product. Always aim to serve organic micro greens that are on the upper end of the scale.
Cook with healthier oils and butters
Part of what makes sweets and winter foods so unhealthy is the oils and butter that they are cooked with. When you replace these heavy fat content oils and butter with an alternative product, you are increasing the health of the product. In most cases, people cannot even tell the difference. You can still make your favorite mashed potatoes with healthier butter choices. You can also design a holiday pie with healthier oils and organic eggs. Additionally, there are about 100 types of common garden flowers that are both edible and palatable. These will make your holiday desserts look beautiful, taste wonderful, and they are also healthier.
Focus on colors when designing foods
If you have ever dined at an upscale restaurant or been wowed at a local grocery stores display, this was likely due to the fact that the display was colorful and large. You don?t have to use unhealthy foods to create the same wow at your holiday party. When it comes to food presentation or plating, children prefer 6 food colors and 7 different food components while adults prefer 3 colors and 3 food components. Food designs that contain a lot of colors and numerous choices will always be appreciated, regardless of the types of foods that are actually on display.
Healthy eating often takes a back seat during the holiday season. There are simply too many temptations and sweets are everywhere around you. You don?t have to forgo your diet to enjoy the holiday season. Making small changes like cooking with healthier ingredients and serving healthy edible flowers on your desserts will allow you to celebrate, while also sticking to your healthy eating habits.
