Staying fit and lean through the holidays

It is very hard to stay motivated to eat healthy and workout during the holiday season.  Don't be like the majority of people and gain 10lbs during the holiday season.   Being inactive, drinking and eating more than usual, you can easily be a part of this grim statistic.  Last week I had a healthy holiday party. I had some healthy versions for some of your typically high calorie and high fat foods.  Her are a few of the recipes.

Stuffing

Makes: 6

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Prep 10 mins

Cook 45 mins

Ingredients

•   1/4 cup wild rice

•   1 3/4 cups water

•   1/4 cup regular brown rice

•   1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules

•   1/8 - 14 teaspoons ground sage or nutmeg

•   2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

•   1/2 cup sliced celery

•   3 green onions, sliced

•   1/4 cup sliced almonds or pine nuts, toasted (optional)

Directions

Rinse uncooked wild rice in a strainer under cold water about 1 minute. In a medium saucepan combine wild rice, the 1-3/4 cups water, uncooked brown rice, bouillon granules, and sage or nutmeg. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add mushrooms, celery, and green onions. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat for 25 minutes more or until vegetables are just tender, stirring frequently. If desired, stir in almonds or pine nuts. Use to stuff a 3-1/2- to 4-pound broiler-fryer chicken or serve immediately.

Make Ahead Tip

Place stuffing into a 1-quart casserole and chill for up to 24 hours. Stir in 1/4 cup water. Bake, covered, in a 375 degrees F oven about 30 minutes or until heated through.

Braised Seasoned Brussels Sprouts

Makes: 4 servings

Prep 15 mins

Cook 10 mins to 12 mins

Ingredients

•   1/2 teaspoon mustard seed

•   1/2 teaspoon cumin seed

•   1/2 teaspoon fennel seed

•   2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

•   1 dried Thai red pepper, crushed, or 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

•   8 ounces Brussels sprouts, halved (2 cups)

•   1/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth

•   1 tablespoon coarsely chopped cashews or peanuts

•   2 teaspoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

•   1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Lightly coat a medium saucepan with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add mustard seed, cumin seed, and fennel seed. Cook and stir for 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in ginger, red pepper, and Brussels sprouts. Add broth and cook, covered, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, till Brussels sprouts are tender.

   To serve, stir in nuts, vinegar, and salt.

Roasted Kale and White Bean Dip

Toss 4 cups cut uncooked Kale with 1 T olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast it on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Toss occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn.  In a food processor combine the kale (once cooled) with 1 can of white beans (drained and rinsed), 1tsp each of fresh thyme and rosemary, 1 tsp minced garlic, and 1/3 cup low-fat cream cheese.  Process until smooth.  Serve with a tray of roasted colorful vegetables. 

Twice Baked Yams

 Bake 3 large yams in the microwave 4-5 minutes per side.  Cut the yams in half lengthwise. Scoop the innards out of one of the yams and discard the skin.  Scoop the majority of the innards out of the other two yams leaving a lining around the skin to keep them sturdy.  Using a food processor or masher, combine the yam innards with ¼ cup low-fat cream cheese, 1 T olive oil 1tsp cinnamon and ¼ tsp nutmeg.  Scoop the mixture back into the four yam skins and sprinkle with 2 T crushed pecans. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  

Here are some lower calorie tasty holiday cocktails:

Drink 1

Ingredients
1 1/2oz Voli Lemon vodka
2oz cranberry juice
splash of club soda

Directions
Mix vodka and cranberry juice in a rocks glass. Top with a splash of club soda. Enjoy!

Nutrition Info
100 calories, 8.6g carbs, 7.6g sugar

Drink 2

Ingredients
2oz VuQo Vodka
½oz raspberry liqueur
1oz pineapple juice

Directions
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with festive fruits like a strawberry or raspberries.

Nutrition Info
188 calories, 4g sugar, 9g carbs

Drink 3

Pumpkin Pie Martini. Yeah, I know. It's as good as it sounds. There are several pumpkin liqueurs on the market, which are convenient, but add a ton of calories. By using the actual squash, you get the flavor without the calories—and, believe it or not, a little fiber in your drink.

◦                      6 oz. vanilla-flavored vodka

◦                      6 oz. canned unsweetened pumpkin

◦                      4 oz. fat-free condensed milk

◦                      4 oz. unsweetened almond milk (or fat-free milk)

◦                      4 Tbsp. pumpkin pie seasoning

◦                      Ice cubes

◦                      6 crushed reduced-fat vanilla wafers

Place vodka and pumpkin in a bowl, and stir until pumpkin has dissolved. Stir in condensed milk and almond milk. Add seasoning and stir well. Dip rims of glasses in crushed vanilla wafers. Pour liquid over ice into glass and enjoy. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories	Calories 105 Protein	Fiber	Carbs	Fat Total	Saturated Fat
105	1 g	2 g	6 g	< 1 g	< 1

Drink 4

Peppermint Martini. This is perhaps the simplest and tastiest low-calorie cocktail out there. Just three ingredients and a bit of candy cane. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

◦                      9 oz. vanilla vodka

◦                      9 oz. peppermint schnapps

◦                      3 oz. fat-free condensed milk

◦                      Ice

◦                      6 miniature candy canes

Place all liquids in a martini shaker with ice. Shake and pour into glasses. Garnish each with a candy cane. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving; not counting the candy canes):
Calories	Calories 232 Protein	Fiber	Carbs	Fat Total	Saturated Fat
232	1 g	< 1 g	13 g	< 1 g	< 1 g

Drink 5

Blitzen's Bliss. Given that Blitzen is the final reindeer in the lineup, he probably gets knocked around a fair bit by the sleigh over the course of Santa's travels on Christmas Eve. But once they're done circumnavigating the globe, Blitzen comes home and has a few of these, and it's all good. Not only does he feel better, but since they have just 130 calories apiece, he doesn't feel all bloated for his Christmas dinner the next day.

◦                      2 cups pomegranate juice

◦                      Juice of 2 limes

◦                      8 oz. vodka

◦                      1 tsp. peppermint extract

◦                      12 ice cubes

◦                      4 Tbsp. chopped mint leaves

◦                      6 miniature candy canes

Place first four ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and pour into individual glasses. Sprinkle each with mint and garnish with candy cane. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Information (per serving; not counting the candy canes):
Calories	Calories 130    Protein	Fiber	Carbs	Fat Total	Saturated Fat
130	< 1 g	< 1 g	11 g	< 1 g	< 1 g

Not only do you need to keep an eye on your diet you need to stay focused in the gym.   It may be a good idea to sign up for a 10K or Half Marathon in December or January to keep you focused on training.  

When headed out to a holiday party don't go hungry.  Make a plan to meet someone in the morning for a run so you are forced to limit the amount of cocktails you drink.  

Good luck!