Festive Holiday Foods That Are Still Good For You
The holidays are a time for friends, family, and food. And just because it is the holidays, it doesn’t mean you have to overindulge. There are plenty of ways to keep eating healthy during the holiday season.
Holiday meals tend to take longer than normal to cook, which can lead to some hungry holiday guests. One way to keep guests happy is to have a variety of snacks available for everyone to nibble on. And believe it or not, there are many choices that are healthy.
Nuts can provide a crunch and salty snack that is perfect to munch on throughout the day. Did you know that nuts are full of protein and good for your teeth? Many nuts contain phosphorus and calcium, two minerals that help build the enamel on your teeth. And if you’re looking for a way to spice up your nut snack, check out this recipe by Martha Stewart. All it requires is your favorite nuts, a few spices, and time to roast, and voila, you have a healthy (and easy) snack for your holiday guests.
If you’re active on social media, you might have seen the trend of charcuterie boards popping up all over. A charcuterie board is traditionally made with cold cuts, cheese, fruit, and crackers. While cold cuts are full of protein and cheese contains calcium, some people might not want to ingest that much sodium.
If you are looking for a healthy alternative for a charcuterie board, you can make one that has just fruits and vegetables on it. Fruits and vegetables are full of multiple vitamins, like Vitamin C, which helps build tissues in your body, including your gums, and VItamin A, which helps with saliva production. Crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery are known as nature’s toothbrushes because the fibrous veggies help to brush away plaque that is on your teeth.
Salads are a great way to fill up on leafy vegetables, which are packed with tons of vitamins and nutrients that your body and teeth need, but they also are great for your oral health because leafy vegetables can help wipe plaque away as you chew. But traditional iceberg or Cobb salads can be a little bland, so why not serve a salad with a twist?
Not only is this salad delicious, but the rich greens and reds make it a beautiful addition to any holiday table. This salad calls for fresh broccoli, coleslaw, roasted sunflower seeds, craisins, and golden raisins. For some extra protein, add some cooked bacon, and for even more holiday flavor, candy the bacon with a little maple syrup. Your holiday guests will be coming back for seconds!
Looking to add some sweet fruit to a salad? Look no further than this pear salad. All you need are smoked pears, pumpkin seeds, and some frisée or hearts of romain. This salad provides you with a dose of vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins C and K, phosphorus, and potassium. If you want to add a little dose of calcium, blue cheese makes a great addition to this salad.
You can’t forget the healthy sides when you’re talking about holiday meals!
A favorite of many families during the holidays is sweet potato casserole. Instead of adding the super sweet marshmallows to the top, this recipe calls for chopped and roasted pecans and oats, which are full of phosphorus, a mineral that helps to build bone and tooth density. The sweet potatoes are packed full of Vitamin A, which helps keep your gums healthy.
Looking for a way to jazz up stuffing? Try your hand at this recipe that calls for pears, sourdough bread, sage, and golden raisins. The pears and golden raisins provide plenty of Vitamin C and K, while the carrots and celery work to help brush plaque away from your teeth as you chew. Sage also contains Vitamins A and C, and is full of antioxidants.
From all of us at My Chico Dentist, we wish you and your family a fantastic holiday full of family, friends, fun, and good food. But don’t forget that we still want to see you twice a year to help you maintain your oral health. If you haven’t seen us in a while, give us a call today to schedule an appointment!
Call 530-893-8913 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.