The holidays are traditionally known for the time when we put on the most weight, we make bad choices, give up exercising, etc. I don’t think that has to be the case, I am very aware of what I am putting into my body all the time and when it comes to our Christmas meal, I am choosing to eat well and stay healthy. My mom always taught us to make switches and remove the unhealthy to make way for the healthy, just a little change here and there can make all the difference!

Of course, mom also did not let us use eggs, butter, salt or pepper but that’s an entirely different story….To make it easy, ShapeYourFutureOk.com has some great ideas for easy switches that will save you calories and won’t sacrifice taste.

Mashed Potatoes — Use skim milk, chicken broth, garlic or garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese to add flavor and cut back on added butter or margarine.

Green Bean Casserole — Cook fresh green beans with chunks of potatoes instead of cream soup. Top with almonds instead of fried onion rings.

Dressing — Use a little less bread and add more onions, garlic, celery, and vegetables. Add fruits such as cranberries or apples. Moisten or flavor with low fat, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth and applesauce.

Gravy — Refrigerate the gravy to harden fat. Skim the fat off. This will save a whopping 56 grams of fat per cup.

Desserts — Make a crustless pie. Substitute two egg whites for each whole egg in baked recipes. Replace heavy cream with evaporated skim milk in cheesecakes and cream pies. Top cakes with fresh fruit, fruit sauce, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar instead of fattening frosting.

These tips are sure to give your yummy meal a healthy twist and keep the taste great!

This message is sponsored by ShapeYourFutureOk.com. For more information and recipes, be sure to check out Shape Your Future on facebook!