Here are Ten Ways to Enjoy the Holiday Seasons the Healthy Way:

1. Try marinating meat, seafoods, and vegetables in skewers for fun, bite sizes. Instead of frying it, try doing a grill.

2. Sushi can be a great way to present Asian food in a stylish way. You can roll freshly cut cucumber, avocado, lettuce, carrot, or salmon that’s rich in Omega-3.

3. Choose low fat when buying dips or salad dressings. You may try guacamole or the all-time favorite French onion dip.

4. If you are going to put nuts on the table, try the unsalted version and buy them raw. Roast it in a dry pan and to add flavor, you may toss in some sunflower seeds.

5. Ditch those bags of unhealthy potato chips and opt for popcorns done with a dash of salt, paprika, and olive oil.

6. Nothing beats fresh fruits and vegetables when it comes to adding flavor and color into the holiday dinner table. Just make sure you wash these carefully to remove any dirt or toxin. You may put them in a natural soak made of 1/4 vinegar and 3/4 water.

7. If you will drink alcohol during the holiday feast, substitute a dry wine or Bloody Mary for your beer and Bailey’s. Alcohol tend to trap in more calories in the body, making one feel bloated.

8. Hydrate yourself and drink plenty of water before and after a meal. Do this when you are attending a drinking party for you to lessen the effects of having a bad case of hangover.

9. If you’re eating any red or white meat, avoid the skin which can be full of fat and calories.

10. Stay away from hydrogenated vegetable oils in cooking your meals. You can choose olive oil instead which is hearty for you as well.

It is a rule of the thumb that you don’t go to a party feeling hungry or you endanger yourself with taking in more than what your body can handle. Traditional holiday meals are full of mega calories and having smaller bites will save you from getting fat without offending your dinner hosts as well. You must also take into consideration that your dinner guests may be suffering from diabetes and you may make a dessert that is diabetic-friendly. If you can’t resist the urge to eat, you can always try safer and natural options in feeling full like sipping a hot bowl of soup or drinking water before you take your first bite. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed so you may stop worrying about calories with these conscious choices. Bon Appetite!

Here’s a Great Recipe from Diabetica.com:

Classic English Diabetic Dessert – Fruit Trifle

1. Make some sugar free jelly and put in the base of a clear bowl or tall glasses
2. Add tinned fruit (drained, in fruit juice, not syrup) to the jelly before it sets
3. Make a custard using custard powder, skimmed milk and granulated sweetener
4. Pour a layer of cooled (but not set) custard on top of the set jelly
5. For the final layer, top it all off with some low fat cream, low fat fromage frais sweetened with a little sweetener or Splenda or add a little spray cream from a tin for effect just before serving, top with a glazed cherry
6. Decorate the top with either tinned or seasonal fresh fruit, such as sliced bananas (dipped in lemon juice), sliced strawberries or blueberries (for a taste of summer) or cranberries (perfect at Christmas time)

Note: For those who want natural sweeteners, you may try organic agave or wild honey instead

Video: Tips for Balanced Eating at Christmas