13 Holiday Foods That Are Actually Good for You
Healthy eating over the holidays doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact, you’re likely already eating some of the best foods for your weight and health without even knowing it. Here, nutritionists dish on which festive foods won’t wreck your waistline this season.
Brussels sprouts
This vegetable is high in fiber, says Neda Varbanova of Healthy with Nedi, who has a master’s degree in food studies and is a certified culinary nutritionist and holistic health coach. This means that filling up on them will keep you satiated for longer and promote healthy digestion. Plus, one cup contains all of your daily requirements for immune-boosting vitamins K and C, Varbanova adds. Not sure how to cook brussels sprouts?
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is the perfect side for non-meat eaters, according to Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN of Maya Feller Nutrition. “It’s an excellent source of plant-based protein in addition to having fiber and vitamins K, C, and also vitamin B6, which helps with brain development and helps the body make the good mood hormone serotonin.”
Acorn squash
“Acorn squash contains a bioavailable form of beta-carotene—a pigment known to protect against heart disease and cancers,” says Varbanova. “It’s also an anti-inflammatory food, which helps to fight chronic inflammation.” Everything from asthma to rheumatoid arthritis is considered inflammatory conditions, and piling your plate up with acorn squash can help reduce your flare-ups and symptoms.
Collard greens
Feller recommends this mild green as a sauteed, stewed, or steamed side. Raw collard greens are 90 percent water and a high source of the antioxidant vitamin C. Collard greens also provide calcium and are a low-calorie veggie–a half-cup yields about 33 calories.
Green beans
“Green beans are one of the healthiest foods you can eat during the holidays, especially when boiled or steamed,” says Varbanova. (This means you should keep it simple and skip any casserole-style options which are typically packed with saturated fat and calories.) “One cup of green beans contains 10 percent of your daily folate requirement, virtually no fat and 4 grams of fiber.”
More info, and recipes at link:
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/holiday-foods-that-are-actually-good-for-you/
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
(((HUGS)))
Grapefruit:
Oranges:
And Lemons:
Helping me get ready for family over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Is there anything better?
Clear and cool with a bit of snow this past week here in Central Missouri. The covid didn’t kill me and I’m getting a little stronger every day. I managed half-days working from home all week. Should be back to full speed, or close to it at least, by Monday. Mrs. Augie is about three days behind me but she’s on the mend.
Turns out I didn’t kill all of the seedlings that I had started in the greenhouse. About half of them survived the neglect they suffered while I was on the couch.
Before I got sick my Nephew helped me put the plastic over the pole bean arbor. We thought it was secured well enough to still be there the next day when we would get back to working on it but the wind came up up overnight and undid all of our good work. I need to re-fit the sheeting and come up with a better way of securing it.
The garlic is peeking out of its mulch blanket ~6” already. Should be well on the way to another bumper crop.
All of the effort put into canning last summer paid off while we were down with the covid. We used a quart of spaghetti sauce, a quart of tomato juice, a quart of sauerkraut, and plenty of Mrs. Augie’s fermented pickles for some low-effort/high-quality meals. Couldn’t properly enjoy it thanks to being sick but I know it was good for us.
I retrieved Nanner’s steering cylinder from the hydraulics doc yesterday after work. I’m not quite strong enough yet to tackle reinstalling it on the tractor but it’s ready to go when I’m feeling up to the task.
Good afternoon!
This is a repeat post, some of you may know that I have moved south of the Mason Dixon Line. Excited to be moving to a red state :)
I am looking for some vendors who sell blueberry and raspberry plants, maybe some apple trees.
Though I have bought retail from local nurseries in the past, I have more space and would like to plant a number of them, so I am looking for a quantity discount :)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Been a while since I updated my home build and garden build in Texas.
Foundation is getting poured this week and next week framing starts.
Hope to be in the house in April but at least by my bday and Mother’s Day in May.
This coming weekend I am renting a skid steer and ripping out about 2000 after of native grass, pulling out the soil down 2.5 feet (where I hit the limestone/caliche,) then switching to a leveling blade which is essentially a giant rake/sifter to get the rocks out.
Then the soil goes back in and I will add some purchased garden soil followed by renting a wood chipper to cover all the raised beds.
The beds will be 4’ x 25’ except when I hit a big surface rock that is too big a pain to deal with.
Cranberry Sauce
This is good on chicken, pork, and beef, too...perfect for those turkey sandwiches while watching football!
1c water
1c sugar
12oz fresh cranberries
4-6oz dried cherries
Add water to sauce pan and heat to boiling. Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
Bring back up to a boil and add cranberries. Stir until the cranberries have “popped” open.
Add the dried cherries. I actually add about 8oz, but I really like the taste of the cherries. If you’re less of a fan, add less. (Some people like a little orange zest added at this point, but I prefer it without the zest.)
Continue to stir until the cherries look re-hydrated. If you like your sauce a little “runny”, add a 1/2c of water.
Once the cherries are re-hydrated, remove from the heat and cool. Enjoy!