1. Sugar Cookies Don’t these seem to be on every end-cap at the grocery store? An average cookie can contain over 200 calories and 14 grams of sugar. If you find these too hard to resist opt for homemade cookies and use egg whites and less sugar.

2. Mashed Potatoes Do I really have to explain? One serving clocks in at 237 calories with 9 grams of fat and 666 milligrams of sodium. This count doesn’t include added salt, butter, or sour cream.

3. Cinnamon Rolls Now this one is particularly hard for me. Cinnamon rolls and Christmas go hand-in-hand in my family. A classic roll has 730 calories. A Pecanbon roll has 1,100 and 25 grams of fat. Try this maple-cinnamon french toast that has one-fifth the calories and fat.

4. Glazed Ham Over Thanksgiving weekend I found myself chowing a bit too much of this sugary meat. On its own, ham is a vitamin-rich lean meat but when it’s cured with salt and coated with sugar the health benefits are lost. Lighten up your recipe with a healthier glaze made mostly from fruit preserves.

5. Gravy Portion control of gravy usually proves to be difficult especially after a couple glasses of wine. One cup of canned turkey gravy has 1,373 milligrams of sodium, almost reaching the USDA’s 2,300 milligrams recommended daily limit.

6. Swedish Meatballs This tempting classic may seem harmless. Still, lurking within each ball can be at least 400 calories of white bread, butter, heavy cream, and sodium-laden beef broth.

7. Creamed Spinach In general, always avoid food where cream is used to describe it. Creamed spinach is no different. This side dish can provide you with more than 75% of your saturated fat for the day. Skip the cream and go with a much healthier sauteed version.

8. Fruitcake This one is in no way tempting. It reminds me of mothballs and yarn. One slice of this dense cake contains over 400 calories and 13 grams of fat. No thanks.

9. Pot Roast One 3-ounce serving of traditional beef pot roast has 280 calories and 20 grams of total fat. But who only eats 3-ounces. Go for the leaner meat – turkey without gravy.

10. Candied Yam Sweet potatoes on their own are a very nutritious food but when you add the typical 6 cups of sugar that many traditional recipes call for all health benefits are lost. Try this sweet potato casserole instead where the sugar is cut down and the butter is replaced with half-and-half.

11. Croissants Nothing beats a warm croissant on a crisp morning. But what makes them so mouth-watering? Sugar, salt, and butter between each and every layer of flour dough. A butter croissant from Starbucks has 310 calories and 18 grams of total fat. This pastry isn’t as bad as a box of donuts, but it has almost no nutritional value.

12. Chocolate martini. Vodka and chocolate. Heavenly? Yes. Fattening? Absolutely. A chocolate martini has at least 300 calories per glass when you use vodka, chocolate liquor, and syrup. Try a skinny mix instead and dramatically cut your drink calories.

13. Pecan Pie A single slice will cost you more than 500 calories, 37 grams of fat, and 26 grams of sugar. Don’t worry. You can still enjoy dessert. Just opt for a small piece of an apple pie that will cut the calories in half.

14. Spinach & Artichoke Dip A classic party appetizer and one of my all-time favorites. Spinach and artichokes alone are nutritious. However, generous amounts of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese overpower the vitamin-packed veggies. This is another food that is a portion control nightmare as many people ‘scoop’ instead of ‘dip’. Enjoy one chip and don’t go back.

15. Sausage Stuffing Generic sausage stuffing has 345 calories, 235 from fat, setting you back about 26 grams of fat altogether. Other recipes call for too much butter and maple syrup. Stuffing can be healthy or at least healthier. Try this lightened version instead.

16. Cranberry Sauce Cranberries are a great source of vitamin E, K, and C, and dietary fiber. Still, pay close attention at the dinner table during the holidays. One serving can add 400 calories to your plate. Go fresh instead and try this healthier cranberry relish.

17. Potato Pancakes Even though potato pancakes are a well-liked holiday substitute for mashed potatoes, they’re battered with egg, flour, and breadcrumbs, and then fried in oil. An average pancake has over 200 calories and 11 grams of fat, plus extra saturated fat from cooking oil.

18. Gingerbread With large quantities of buttermilk, flour, and sugar one small piece of cake has 260 calories, 36 carbs, and 12 grams of fat. Stick with small cookies—you can still shape them into people! And use light icing to decorate.

19. Candy Canes A very hard to avoid candy to avoid especially with young kids in the house. They only contain 60 calories but also offer zero nutritional value. Get a little creative in the kitchen with this candy made with white chocolate, dried cranberries, and almonds.

20. Egg Nog Nothing says Christmas-time more than a glass of yummy egg nog but it must be COMPLETELY avoided. One cup has 343 calories, 150 milligrams of cholesterol, half of the USDA’s suggested daily limit, and 21 grams of sugar, almost a day’s worth. Instead, enjoy a spiced cider.

Source: health.com

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Written by Lea Barlow • 1 Comment