6 Healthy Christmas Food Swaps That Will Save Hundreds of Calories

christmas feast Health is rarely the first thing we think of during the most beautiful season of the year. Our regular healthy eating routines can be easily forgotten between the countless parties, stream of visitors, and holiday preparations. However, choosing wholesome foods that nourish your body, like nuts, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, is the secret to a healthier Christmas. Fortunately, these are all in abundance during the holidays, and Dr Rohini Patil, MBBS, Nutritionist and CEO of Nutracy Lifestyle, offer you advice on limiting your intake of sugar, fat, gluten, dairy, and alcohol.Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Root Vegetables Consider sweet potatoes as a healthier alternative to traditional holiday sides. Sweet potatoes are rich in fibre, which facilitates digestion, and are a great source of iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Carrots, corn, or pumpkin can be used to add various colours to the dish while providing additional phytochemicals and antioxidants. If you make this easy but healthy substitution, you will get all the delectable sides. Try roasting or baking the sweet potatoes in a little olive oil to keep things simple. You can always add herbs like rosemary or freshly cracked pepper for more zing.Homemade hummus It's a big deal, this! Everyone enjoys a good dip at a party or gathering, but most of them (especially those purchased from a store) are filled with unhealthy fats, dangerous chemicals, and preservatives, making them, to put it simply, unworthy of consumption. Since guacamole and hummus are made with vegetables rather than cream, they make excellent substitutes.Swap store-bought cranberry sauce for homemade Store-bought cranberry sauce may contain a significant amount of added sugar, which lowers its antioxidant value. Fresh cranberries, raw honey (or Stevia if you want to reduce the sugar content further), freshly squeezed orange juice, and orange zest are the main ingredients in homemade cranberry sauce, which is much healthier than store-bought. Go for the reduced-sugar cranberry sauce instead.Swap milk chocolate treats for dark chocolate Cocoa is combined with creamy milk to make milk chocolate. However, milk chocolate, while delicious, could be more nutritious. Dark chocolate contains less sugar and more antioxidants. It also has less harmful saturated fat. So if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth healthily this holiday season, try dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.Swap breadcrumb stuffing for grains Stuffing is necessary for roasting turkey, pork, or chicken in most families. If you have gluten sensitivity, try substituting different whole grains for the breadcrumbs, such as quinoa, buckwheat, or bulger, to increase the protein content and lessen belly bloat.Replace traditional desserts with low-sugar alternatives Traditional holiday desserts include apple crumble, pecan pie, gulab jamun, baklava, Christmas pudding, and Kaju katli, all of which are high in sugar. To reduce your intake, try seasonal sliced fruit platters, such as sliced oranges dusted with cinnamon, baked fruit with warm spices and yoghurt, dried fruits and nuts, or natural honey in place of processed sugars in your recipes.