Courtesy of Clark’s Nutrition

Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s Eve, winter holidays are traditionally celebrated with food. But no matter how delicious, not every holiday morsel provides the best nourishment for your body. Nourish both your body and soul with these tips for healthy holiday eating.

Try feeding your family and friends with foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. If you eat fish, buy it fresh since it has more valuable fatty acids than smoked or canned. Studies have shown that free range foods are 40 percent more nutritious. Free range is a method of farming husbandry where the animals are permitted to roam freely instead of being contained. Fair treatment of animals is an integral part of leading a sound life as a human.

Organic foods have more nutrients and better environmental consequences than chemically-raised foods and they taste better too. Eating organic food is practically the only way to avoid genetically engineered foods. The DNA of genetically engineered foods has been altered, and may present health risks. Besides, organic farming helps to create a spiritually better animal. There is a spiritual energy that transfers into the food itself–the animals give us life.

Some traditional holiday foods are high in fat. You can substitute lower-fat foods, or serve fewer high-fat foods. Instead of frying or roasting potatoes, bake or boil them. If you make mashed potatoes, be sparing with the butter.

Avoid holiday waste with one easy method: simply cook less. Do some math before turning on the stove. Most people won’t eat more than six ounces of protein total. So calculate. Three to four ounces per person per side dish is generous, while a 9-inch pie can satisfactorily serve eight. Have a plan for what to do with leftovers; e.g., pick up the ingredients for turkey soup (celery, carrots, onion, parsley, garlic, and noodles) when you buy the bird so scraps won’t spoil before you can return to the market. Send leftover food home with guests.

Buy whole foods, which have more nutrients and have less toxicity than “junk” refined foods. Buy freshly-baked goods that only contain real ingredients you can pronounce. Many holiday goodies — cookies, cakes, tarts — are saturated with refined sugar, which can dampen your holiday spirits if you are prone to the “sugar blues” — fatigue — a few hours after eating too much sugar. Too much refined sugar can also make children over-excitable.

Instead of packaged cookies and cakes, bake from scratch and bake recipes that call for less-refined sugar. Try dried cane juice, fructose, molasses, fruit juice, or crushed fruit instead. Make goodies just sweet enough, but not too sweet.

When offered sweet goodies, eat less. Take just one or two pieces. Eating sweets with a meal can help lessen the “sugar blues.” No matter how mouth-watering, too much food overwhelms your digestion.

A Healthy New Year

Ring in the new year with a healthy attitude toward your body. If you host a New Year’s party, offer sparkling grape juice or organic, non-alcoholic punch to guests who prefer to avoid alcohol.

Make a New Year’s resolution to give yourself the gift of healthy food every day. Your body will reward you!