Want to avoid holiday weight gain? Avoid these 4 holiday favorites that look healthy but are surprisingly high in calories.
We’ve got some lower calorie swaps to help you LOSE weight during the holiday season.
Spinach-artichoke dip
So, this dip has spinach and artichoke – two really healthy ingredients. So why is it so bad? Combining these veggies with mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese adds a lot of calories. One popular restaurant’s version of this dish is 905 calories. It also has an incredible 3,100 milligrams of sodium.
Swap with – Cucumber with Hummus
Looking for a delicious appetizer? Slice up some cucumbers and dip them in hummus. It’s a healthy crowd pleaser you can serve at a party or just for yourself.
Sweet Potato Casserole
We hear that sweet potatoes are good for us. Sweet potatoes have more fiber and are slightly lower on the glycemic index than white potatoes. So what makes this dish unhealthy? It’s the addition of brown sugar, maple glaze, pecans, flour and marshmallows that adds unnecessary calories.
Swap with – Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Bake sweet potatoes in your oven, peel off the skin, and mash them up. Add nutmeg for a delicious flavor without added calories.
Green Bean Casserole
This holiday favorite is considered the go to vegetable dish for many gatherings. And, hey, green beans are a great source of fiber and vitamin A and C. Once again, it’s the extras that add on the calories. Butter, cheese, salt, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions add a ton of calories and sodium.
Swap with – Spicy Green Beans
Spice up your green beans with garlic, ginger and soy sauce. Steam, sauté, or microwave your PTF green beans and add in these spices to have a delicious green been dish. Here’s our Spicy Green Beans recipe.
Holiday Coffee Drinks
We all love our holiday coffee drinks: Peppermint mocha, eggnog latte, or toasted gingerbread latte. Hey, it’s just coffee. And we know caffeine can sometimes help with weight loss. But the calories and sugar in these drinks can be through the roof.
Swap with – Coffee with cream and spices
Add a little cream or almond milk to your coffee. Sprinkle it with cinnamon, or nutmeg, or a drop of Madagascar vanilla extract. You’ll get the flavor without the calories and added sugar.
Eat healthy during the holidays
Do these swaps and enjoy the holidays without all those extra calories. Want more help to stay on track? Personal Trainer Food delivers delicious prepared weight loss meals to your door. It’s easy to lose weight when you always have healthy meals on hand, ready in minutes. Check out our meal plans.
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