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Healthy Snack Ideas for the Holidays

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The holidays are here and so are the dinner parties full of all kinds of fantastic foods. With that being said, so are all of the extra calories. However, you can still enjoy your favorite holiday foods, if you substitute some healthy snack ideas for meals. That way you can feel more relaxed while indulging at your next holiday party.

Here are some low calorie snacks to make. I suggest that you have a balanced breakfast and eat these healthy snacks during the day before going to your holiday gatherings.

Baked Cinnamon Apple

Preheat oven 350*
Core the apple ( I Recommend Using Red Delicious Type Apples ) Peel the skin from around the top of apple
Fill the core with raisins
Generously, sprinkle apple with cinnamon
Drizzle honey on top of the apple
Cover the core with a pat of butter
Place apple in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of water to the bowl Place bowl on a cookie sheet
Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until apple is soft
Allow apple to cool for 5 minutes before eating

Cucumber Slices With Sea Salt

Wash and dry cucumber
Cut into 1/4 inch slices
Sprinkle with sea salt

Celery Sticks With Hummus

Wash and peel celery
Fill the center of the stalk with store bought hummus
(health food stores has a great selection of hummus)
Cut into edible pieces.

Enjoy these simple healthy snack ideas and Happy Holidays !!!!

Posted by Eve

Health Tip: The Health Benefits of Red Beets

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I recently discovered some health benefits of red beets. I learned that:

  • Red beets contain a chemical called betalains, that is said to kill cancer cells, according to a study named “Anti Cancer Agents In Medical Chemistry” written in March, 2011.
  • Red beets help improve athletic performance and lower the risk for heart disease. Since the chemical betalains is what causes the beet to be colored red it is said to be the most healthiest beet to consume.
  • Beets also, contain a high amount of fiber, so you feel more satisfied after consuming them.
Photo credit: Flickr: notahipster
Photo credit: Flickr; notahipster

I prefer to purchase organic raw red beets from my local grocer instead of the ones that are repackaged in a jar or can. I soon learned that i do not care for the taste of the raw uncooked red beets. So, I came up with the perfect solution! I simply put some beets into my daily smoothie that consists of kale, blueberries, strawberries and protein powder that I sweetened with a few drops of liquid stevia.

The size of your beets can vary, so you should use your own judgement as to how much to add to your smoothy. I generally, after purchasing my beets wash, peel and chop it into chunks. I then store the beets in an air tight container at the bottom of my refrigerator to stay fresh. I generally use 3-4 chunks per day in my smoothie. I don’t find the flavor of the beet to be overwhelming. What I do believe, it that it gives the smoothy a earthy mellow flavor that is pleasing to my pallet.

So these are the health benefits of red beets, which may convince you to try incorporating them into your diet. Note: if you plan to eat the red beets daily as I do, don’t be concerned if you see a slight reddish color in your urine. It is simply the red beets. Always consult a doctor or professional dietician before making changes to your diet.

Posted by Eve