Healthy Re-Dos of Favorite Holiday Foods

It was all the way back in November of 2007 that I wrote a post on healthy holiday eating.  In that post I said I would give you some suggestions for making some of your holiday favorites healthier.  It has been over a year, so I think now would be a good time!

Sweet Potatoes

It has been many, many years since I have eaten the classic holiday sweet potatoes swimming in butter and covered with marshmallows. I don’t really miss it! Instead of butter and marshmallows, try mixing garnet yams with unsweetened canned pineapple chunks. It is really good and surprisingly sweet!

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie can be good for you! The biggest problem is all the sugar. Try cutting back just a bit. Use just 3/4 cup of sugar for every cup of sugar called for in the recipe. Or do like I do and substitute Splenda for the sugar. Then use non-fat evaporated milk, instead of the full fat version, and don’t eat the crust.

Egg Nog

If you must buy the stuff in the store, at least mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with non-fat milk. Or better yet try this. Add 2 teaspoons sugar free vanilla syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to 1 cup of non fat or low fat milk. Yum, one of my favorites. Drink it hot or cold.

Green Bean Casserole

Skip the mushroom soup altogether, and instead mix in some slivered almonds, and just enough fried onions to get the flavor.

Mashed Potatoes

You can use a lot less butter in your mashed potatoes if you start with Yukon Gold Potatoes. They have a naturally buttery flavor. Just mash with some non-fat milk and you can have mashed potatoes that are actually good for you!

Do you have any healthy re-dos for holiday favorites? If so, please leave a comment here!