SIOUX CITY | Christmas comes but once a year, so you might as well splurge.
That's the advice of Marketplace Hy-Vee dietitian Korie Lown, who said indulging in a piece of pumpkin pie or a holiday cookie shouldn't make you feel guilty.
"The holidays are a fun time for families to get together," she said. "Nobody's going to be too upset if you snag a candy cane on occasion."
However, Lown recommends a few healthier alternatives to your holiday spread.
1) Go sweet and go savory
While both have plenty of healthy carbohydrates, Lown said sweet potatoes have more fiber than a traditional white potato.
That's why she favors baking with the sweet potato for the holidays.
"Some people think sweet potatoes will be too sweet and I agree with them," Lown admitted. "That's why I try to make savory dishes with sweet potatoes, using plenty of garlic and other seasonings."
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2) Spice things up with plenty of fresh herbs
"When it comes to Christmas, I tend to be a 'spice' girl," Lown said. "I go through plenty of thyme and plenty of rosemary."
She said such spices will add flavor and freshness to any dish.
"We tend to think of salt as our principal spice," Lown said. "But there are so many other spices to experiment with."
3) Cranberry sauce out of a can? Think again!
"Homemade cranberry sauce will always taste better than the sauce you get out of a can," Lown said. "Mainly because you can better regulate what goes into the sauce if you make it yourself."
In addition, cranberry sauce can be prepared in advance. This makes your holiday rush more manageable.
"I'm a big believer in no-fuss meals," Lown said. "Nobody wants to feel pressure right before Christmas dinner."
4) Start a new Christmas tradition
"Now, I'll never criticize a good green bean casserole," Lown said, "but a healthier take would be steaming fresh green beans, drizzling it with some extra virgin olive oil."
According to Lown, many family favorites can be revised with healthier ingredients or a different cooking preparation.
"The bottom line is your food should taste good," she said. "Your family may prefer a healthier option and it may become an annual Christmas tradition."
5) Be aware of portion control
One slice of grandma's pumpkin pie may be a good thing. How about two or three more?
Lown said too much of a good thing isn't necessarily better.
"Like on other occasions, portion control matters," she said. "You shouldn't feel bad about indulging in the holidays but you should still eat wisely."
And if you don't, you can still convince yourself to diet after the holidays, right? That's what New Year's Resolutions are all all about, aren't they?
