What is The Unhealthiest Food at the Typical Holiday Dinner Table?
by www.Sixwise.com

Eat, drink, and be merry! Words to live by for many of us celebrating the holidays this season. Overeating is commonplace at holiday festivities, which can fuel weight gain and feelings of lethargy.

Alcohol consumption can also lead to weight gain, feelings of lethargy and depression, and can also lower the immune system. Moderation is key during holiday celebrations and maintaining a healthy diet whenever possible is the best for the body.

If you’re going to indulge in the assortment of goodies on the holiday table, try to make smart choices. We all know that desserts are often unhealthy sugar bombs. Here are some of the worst non-dessert holiday food offenders -- saving the worst for last:

*Latkes or Potato Pancakes

This Jewish holiday tradition cooks up 319 calories, about 4 grams of fat, and 68 carbohydrates per serving. Keep in mind that although these are tasty treats, potato pancakes are essentially deep-fried starch -- which can raise cholesterol and increase insulin levels.

*Macaroni and Cheese

Loaded with butter, milk, and cheese, the typical serving of mac and cheese has 379 calories and 25.5 grams of fat, and about 19 grams of carbohydrates. Not to mention that the noodles are usually made with refined carbs. Ugh!

*Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

Adding margarine and sugar to these otherwise healthy vegetables creates a rather unhealthy side dish. To clean up this holiday favorite, stick to plain sweet potatoes, or a mashed variety with some butter, olive oil and sea salt.

*Jello Molds

What is really in that squishy, brightly colored gob of goodness? Who knows! And that’s the problem. In all reality, gelatin dishes are nothing more than sugar, corn syrup and a bunch of artificial flavors and colors. If this one comes your way, take a pass!

*Mashed Potatoes

Good potatoes go bad when they're mixed with unhealthy ingredients for mashing, such as margarine (many contain trans fats) or an excess of salt. And instant mashed potatoes, the kind that come from a box, may be loaded with artificial flavors and sodium. Even homemade mashed potatoes are mostly starch, so they're best eaten in moderation.

*Stuffing

Stuffing is mostly white bread, which is a refined carbohydrate that can upset your blood sugar levels. Plus, many people add sausage, a processed meat that almost always contains nitrites, a potential carcinogen.

Looking for a Healthy Way to End Your Meal?

Desserts don’t have to be ALL bad. Take pumpkin and pecan pie, for instance. Both of these pies have healthy aspects. Pumpkin is a healthy winter squash, while pecans are one of the healthiest nuts around. Pecans are an excellent source of over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamins E and A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, several B vitamins and zinc. Plus, a study from New Mexico State University found that eating 3/4 cup of pecans a day may significantly lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and help to clear the arteries.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, but still healthy, try out the recipes in Gluten-Free French Desserts and Baked Goods cookbook. EVERYONE with a sweet tooth will love the more than 100 recipes in Valérie Cupillard's "Gluten-Free French Desserts And Baked Goods" -- but it's a special treat for those who must eat gluten-free!

Recommended Reading

Food Cravings: How to Manage Your Cravings During the Tempting Holiday Season

The 6 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs

Sources

Forbes.com. World’s Most Fattening Holiday Foods. November 16, 2005

The Daily Plate. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. December 2008