Healthy holiday meals start with planning and smart choices –

Getting ready for the holidays but nervous about blowing your diet? Whatever your goals may be, keeping your weight down or avoiding aggravating inflammation, we have some good news: you certainly can enjoy the bounty of the season in a healthy way. Here are five tips for striking the right balance.

1. Limit portions

Good nutrition is always about two things: what we eat and how much.  Let’s start with Thanksgiving.  There’s overwhelming evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet is the healthiest, which means eating mostly vegetables and fruits and whole grains; but there’s nothing wrong with eating some turkey, or mashed potatoes or even pecan pie.

2. Choose wisely

The key is to not make traditional holiday foods the base of the eating pyramid.  In other words, the majority of your food choices and calories should come from green salads and low-fat vegetable dishes, with small servings of meat, refined carbohydrates and sweet desserts. Think of meats and starches as the side dishes or garnish to a plant-based meal.

3. Make smart substitutions

If you’re hosting dinner, get creative without sacrificing traditional favorites. It’s easy to switch out whole-grain breads for the white dinner rolls, healthy vegetable dishes instead of the high-fat, creamy bean casseroles, and make a healthy sweet potato casserole instead of the heavily sugared, high-calorie version. Do a search for some healthier versions of your family’s favorites; they’re easy to find.

4. Get some exercise

Almost as traditional as turkey and pumpkin pie is fighting for couch space after dinner. It’s a myth that turkey makes you sleepy. While the meat is rich in the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan, research shows it’s the combination of carbs, overeating and alcohol that makes us feel tired. Instead, gather the family and take a walk after the meal.

5. Avoid late-night cravings

Although that turkey and stuffing might be calling your name late at night, a “midnight snack” is not the best choice. Your metabolism slows when you’re asleep. When you allow enough time for digestion before bed, you reduce your chance of digestive upset, and studies suggest that you’ll minimize your risk for weight gain, too.

Food will always be the centerpiece of the winter holidays, but it only takes a few changes to start a new tradition and create healthy holiday meals that are just as memorable and satisfying. While making smart choices is important, don’t forget to enjoy the holiday season!