Even though it can be a little more challenging these days,
we have long held the tradition of sharing a meal with family and friends during the holidays. I feel it is more important than ever to get together and laugh, hug each other, communicate,
and share meals.
However, many of our holiday foods often involve a number of rich, savory foods, creamy dips and fried foods. These foods taste good, but they don’t always make our body feel its best. Here are a few ingredient or food choice tips that can make our dishes healthier to share with our family and friends.
A potato dish can be made with sweet or purple potatoes in place of white potatoes. Use a high-quality organic butter, or use organic ghee or coconut oil as the healthy fat for mashed potatoes or when baking fries. Sweet potatoes are delicious and high in fiber and beta-carotene.
The reason I would recommend a colorful potato over a white potato is that they are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants are the color pigments in foods, so plant foods with vibrant colors are extremely high in antioxidants. Antioxidants counteract the assault of free radicals.
My children always asked me to make my purple mashed potatoes when they had friends visit for dinner because they thought it was fun. These days, my grandson frequently asks if we are going to have purple potatoes to eat when I come to visit. So this year, I encourage you to make some delicious and extraordinary foods for the holidays that are also healthy!
For a healthy stuffing, try making one with organic sprouted rice or even wild rice. Then, bake your stuffing in a separate dish instead of cooking it inside the turkey (where it can absorb a high amount of saturated fat from the meat). Also, use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth. Doing both of these things allow the vegetarian or vegan diners to be able to enjoy that dish as well.
When making cornbread stuffing, purchase the non-GMO, organic cornmeal (which is free of the Bt toxin). (The stuffing can be gluten-free if you use gluten-free cornmeal.) If you are feeling brave, try using blue cornmeal, which is about 30 percent higher in protein and has more zinc and iron than white or yellow corn.
When preparing creature (beef, lamb, pork, fowl, fish) foods, try using a little orange juice and coconut oil to add moisture, and try baking it instead of frying it. If you are baking, frying or sautéing anything, use organic, pure coconut oil in place of: lard, vegetable oil or a trans-fat like Crisco. It handles heat well and has fantastic health benefits.
You can also grill, broil, or sauté them in a little coconut oil. After you remove them from the heat, you can drizzle some pure, organic, extra virgin olive oil on them and possibly top it off with some lemon or lime juice or a lemon or lime juice vinaigrette. When dining, choose skinless, white meat pieces, and then add just a tiny bit of gravy.
Now for dessert, try making a pumpkin pie! You can make a whole sprouted grain crust yourself or you can find a whole grain ready-made crust at the store, and make my cashew crème recipe as the whipped cream for the topping. (Recipe is on page 185 in my How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian, 2nd edition.) I also love having a simple pitted date as a sweet treat or dessert. It’s just fruit, and it is a healthier choice.
Try using non-dairy milk (or if you are fortunate to be near a raw, organic farm with raw goat or cow milk, that is healthier also) in your recipes or for your coffee creamer. If you want it to be sweeter, blend the milk (like the organic, unsweetened, vanilla coconut or hemp milk) with a little extra added vanilla or maple extract in a blender and add some pitted dates. I soak the dates in water to make them softer, so they will crème up easier, and voilà … you have a healthier version of a sweet, holiday creamer for your coffee or desserts!
When making or serving snacks, try an easy dip option such as a healthy high-protein hummus or nutritious guacamole. Cutting some cucumber, red bell pepper or celery to use as the dipping chips is also a great choice!
I frequently cut up and serve fresh green beans with a tiny bit of mineral-rich salt sprinkled on them and serve them as finger food appetizers. I like to eat them alone with the mineral-rich salt, but green beans also go well served with hummus, bean dip, or onion dip. Green beans have some amazing health benefits, and this is one of my favorite ways to serve them.
Green beans are high in orthosilicic acid, which is a natural substance found in seafood, certain mineral waters, vegetables, whole grains, and certain beverages (including beer). Orthosilicic acid is sometimes referred to as soluble silica. Orthosilicic acid is a dietary form of silicon. Silicon is a mineral involved in the formation of collagen and bone. Silicon can help detoxify the body (from aluminum) and also help build strong bones.
If you want to serve crackers or chips, try using a whole grain, sprouted, organic version or an organic sweet potato chip or cracker. (Late July is a good brand for chips and Mary’s Gone Cracker’s is my favorite cracker these days. Mary’s Gone Crackers also has delicious gluten-free crackers.)
For additional snacks that are easy for travel or on the go, try combinations of organic, sprouted nuts, sprouted seeds, olives, pitted dates, raisins, dry fruits, kale chips and coconut chips.
Here are some easy substitutions I use frequently:
1. Unsweetened yogurt or cottage cheese in place of sour cream
2. Hummus or mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise for sandwiches
3. Unsweetened vanilla coconut or hemp milk in place of dairy
With these ingredient substitutions, you can still enjoy all of the delicious flavors you love, and at the same time, you can increase your health benefits.
Eating this way, you can feel and look your very best as holiday activities continue into January. Instead of regretting what you ate, you will glow with radiant health as you welcome the
New Year of 2022!
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Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.
