5 holiday nutrition tips

Meredith Fuson-Hill, RDN

Prisma Health Weight Management

Parties and holiday cooking can make it difficult to stay on track. But Meredith Fuson-Hill, RDN, said it’s possible to enjoy this time of year without sabotaging your health goals. She offered a few tips on holiday nutrition.

1. When baking, use mini muffin cups and small cookie scoops for fixed portion control and swap out certain ingredients such as almond flour instead of all-purpose flour and zero sugar sweetener blends with stevia, monk fruit and erythritol instead of regular sugar. This will help lower the sugar and starch content which is important for weight control.

2. Bring festive veggie platters instead of starchy sides when attending social gatherings. Vegetables are packed with fiber and antioxidants, helping you stay healthy, regular and satiated.

3. Have fun with protein. Decorate individually wrapped cheese sticks like little snowmen. One serving will provide 7 grams of protein.

4. Opt for dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao or try a variety of Lily’s stevia-sweetened no sugar added chocolates for making special treats.

5. Be selective with what you choose to spend your calories on. Practice saying “no, thank you” ahead of time, and adjust your mindset to focus less on the food and more on the things that truly matter.