Healthy eating and the holidays may not seem synonymous but the American Heart Association offers up some tips on how to have a healthier homemade holiday meal. For truckers lucky enough to be home for the holidays, AHA provides guidance on quick ways to reduce sodium and sugar, and how to amplify a meal’s nutrition without sacrificing flavor.
- Cut back on salt by choosing low sodium vegetables or frozen vegetables.
- Use herbs and spices to replace salt altogether.
- Cut back on added sugars by choosing canned fruits packaged in juice or water rather than syrup.
- Switch sour cream out for non-fat, plain Greek yogurt.
- Replace butter with a healthier vegetable oil or substitute equal parts unsweetened applesauce when baking.
- Sneak vegetables into your recipes and boost nutrition by adding pureed sweet potatoes, carrots or cauliflower.
- Whole grains provide a nutritional boost. Use half wheat and half white flour, because mixing the flours helps hide the swap.
- Seasonal fruit can be used to flavor water. Try infusing cranberries, pomegranate arils or orange slices into sparkling water.
