Top 10 food substitutions for this holiday season

By Jessica Boscarini

You have enough going on this holiday season to have to put anything else on your plate—so why do you keep putting more stuff on your plate, literally? It's so easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed this time of year. The holidays are supposed to be all about cheer, and giving, and love.

Let me make this easy on you. You know that you should be eating healthy, and you know that healthy eating will make you feel better. You just don't know how to do it, especially at this time of year when there aren't a lot of healthy options to choose from.

Well, here are 10 simple food substitutions that you can make this Holiday season to help you feel better about the food you are eating and the way you are treating your body. After all, why wait until January 1 to start your annual "get healthy" kick?

Almond milk (rice or soy milk can work too) Almond milk has a creamy texture and a very neutral taste (just make sure you buy the unsweetened). It has fewer calories than fat-free milk and is much easier on your digestive system. Plus, it has additional nutrients that you won't find in cow's milk.

Yogurt (organic) Use yogurt instead of cream in recipes. It will thicken them up without adding all the fat and calories. Greek yogurt works great, as it is a bit thicker than regular yogurt, but either can work.

Stevia This is the greatest substitute for sugar. A little goes a very long way. It is calorie free and is 100 per cent natural (unlike all the other sugar substitutes out there). Just make sure you adjust the wet ingredients in a recipe if you are replacing sugar with stevia because the proportions will be off.

Whole wheat flour Substitute for white flour in recipes, or ask for whole wheat pastas, breads, etc. when ordering out. White flour is white because they bleach it, and you know that can't be good for you!

Brown rice Just like white flour, white rice is refined to get that white colour, stripping away most of the nutrients. Brown rice has a better texture anyway, so eat up.

Coconut oil (organic, un-refined) Use this in place of butter. It has the same consistency as butter (hard when cold, liquid when warm), and can be substituted ounce for ounce in recipes. And while it is still a saturated fat, your body processes it differently than butter, and it can actually help speed up your metabolism. I will warn you that it does have a slight taste (which I happen to love; especially on fish and in baked goods).

Raw cocoa Unlike chocolate, which is full of added sugars and fats, raw cocoa is truly good for you. It is full of antioxidants and has a very deep, rich flavor. A little goes a long way.

Sweet potatoes Known as a Holiday treat already (because of the loads of sugar and butter that are usually added to them), sweet potatoes have a surprising amount of good qualities. Substitute them for white potatoes (baked, in casseroles, etc.) and enjoy the added vitamins. Please, forego the butter and sugar, though.

Home-made spiced nuts Who doesn't love Spiced Nuts over the Holidays? But why eat them with all the extra sugar and oil, when you can just as easily throw some raw nuts on a cookie sheet, coat them with a little bit of Grade B maple syrup, a pinch of salt, and toss them in the oven on 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes?

Tarts vs. Pies The Holidays are all about sweet indulgences, so I don't want to take those away from you. However, eating a tart will usually save you a vast amount of calories, sugar, and often bellyache. Moreover, if you skip the crust altogether, you will be doing yourself even more of a favour.

See, not too bad, is it? Just making a few simple substitutions will make a vast difference in how you feel during, and after this holiday season.

As a Nutritional Chef, I not only focus on healthy eating, but I take pride in creating food that tastes just as good, and often a great deal better, than its unhealthy counterparts. Health is a lifestyle and I believe that the road to getting there needs to be enjoyed!

Furthermore, I am a Certified Fitness Trainer and so I know how exercise, combined with healthy eating, can make a world of difference in how someone feels on both the inside and out. Learn more at http://www.theguiltlessgourmet.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6750037