Nice Ways to Avoid Naughty Foods

As unbelievable as it might be, it's already the Most Wonderful Time of the Year again, which means you're probably stuck in a love-hate relationship with the simultaneously bitter and sweet time that exists between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If your metabolism were as youthful as your spirits, you might even be able to enjoy the season, but the fact is that there's just far too much temptation around you for you to resist the beguiling treats floating around the kitchen. Honestly, it's not easy for anyone to resist the beckoning of a warm holiday oven, especially after the enormous dinner you had on Thanksgiving leaves you craving the month-long dessert course that is December. Moderation and discipline are key during this time of year, so here are a few minor ways that you can substitute some calorie-burning foods into your diet without totally missing out on the holiday pies your neighbors won't stop giving you.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are some of the best ways for your body to work for the food that sustains it. In order for your body to break down these kinds of carbohydrates it typically has to exhaust about twice the energy that it does to break down processed foods. Additionally, since your body is spending more time processing them, they tend to keep you full for longer, so you're not "grazing" (or whatever you want to call it instead of 'snacking') between meals. One of the easiest ways to incorporate whole grains into your diet is to start your day off with a bowl of oatmeal in low-fat or lactose-free milk. Oats are a good, substantial alternative to a bowl of whatever sugar-rich cereal you grab before you leave your house in the morning, and they don't take but a minute more to prepare. Brown rice is another healthy whole grain that you can prepare in advance, and just heat up for lunch with vegetables and left over chicken during the week.

Nuts

A daily serving of nuts really what's recommended for a balanced diet, but it's something that's frequently overlooked when people are shopping for an empty pantry. Although in excessive amounts they can be a bit too fatty, nuts are super-tasty, super-portable snacks if you're on the go. Almonds, in particular, are very healthy and can have a serious impact on your diet if you were to reach for them instead of the family-sized bag of cheetos when you're at the store. Yes, nuts can get a bit boring by themselves, but there are a ton of ways you can make them more interesting. For instance, you can mix them up with some dried fruit for a pretty decent mid-afternoon snack. And by now it's pretty common knowledge that nuts are a relatively protein-rich food, so adding a few here and there can really make a difference in your diet plan.

Green Tea

Green tea consumption is pretty ubiquitous among health aficionados these days, but with good reason: it's rich in antioxidants as well as other things like catechins that have been linked to fat burn. However, one of the most practical ways that Green Tea can impact a diet is that it is an exponentially better go-to refreshment than the sugar-packed soft drinks that most people drink regularly. Sodas are notorious for destroying waistlines, so a cleaner way to quench your thirst is of utmost importance when eating healthy for the holidays. Also, the hint of caffeine that Green Tea supplies is enough to be a bit of an appetite suppressant, so you won't constantly be looking for something to munch on if you have this brewing throughout the day. Now, it probably doesn't have enough kick for you to switch out your morning cup of coffee for it, but as an alternative to sugary drinks it should do just fine.

Sweet Potatoes

Alright, now this is a good way to still enjoy some festive cuisine, but also to get rid of some of those Thanksgiving leftovers that have already been relegated to bowels of your fridge. Sweet potatoes are a very lean food and at around only 103 calories per potato, you'll probably spend more calories just trying to finish the thing than you'll retain from digesting it. Sweet potatoes are also an abundant source of Vitamin A, so they are a pretty well-rounded source of nutrition. Fortunately, most of the best ways to prepare sweet potatoes avoid using oil and butter: baking, steaming, or microwaving should be enough to make it edible. Also, a puree of sweet potatoes (mashed sweet potatoes?) is a tasty and healthy thing to spread on some whole wheat toast. You can even sprinkle a few nuts on there for a mega-healthy breakfast or snack.

Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter is an example of something awesome you can do with nuts (I told you!). Although you're probably not looking to prepare your own batch of peanut butter, you can still use it to help fill your diet if you're looking to be a bit healthier during the holidays. Now, I'm not saying that you can spend every evening spooning the stuff from the jar and expect to lose weight - it still contains plenty of fat that is ready to turn on you if you eat too much. But peanut butter, like it's un-buttered previous form, is rich in protein which can help develop muscle, which also burns fat. If you're looking to indulge in the holiday festivities at night, spread this stuff across some fruit in the morning or on a whole-wheat bagel, that way you're not ending your day eating a gingerbread house after you started it with a danish.

Without question the holidays are a great time to indulge a bit. A touch of holiday weight never hurt anyone, and it'll keep you warm heading into the relentless January winter (I think?). But making a few of these adjustments now will keep you from lamenting an entire season's worth of bad eating decisions. Remember: the holiday decor hits stores just as quickly as the bathing suits do.

Photo attribution: Slightly Everything