Some holidays meals that you shouldn’t eat

‘Tis the season to be jolly—and pack on pounds indulging in rich, fattening fare.

Here are 36 holiday diet hazards you and your family should avoid, along with healthier options that only taste indulgent!

If you simply can’t resist a calorie-laden holiday favorite, make sure to keep portions small.

Cheese straws

These party staples look so innocent, but just one straw packs a third of your daily limit for saturated fat!

You’re better off snacking on pretzels, popcorn, or even a few chips with salsa. And if you really want to do your arteries (and taste buds) a favor, serve this fat-free salsa, which boasts 2 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.

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.

If you can’t resist this diet hazard, our lighter version has almost a fourth of the fat and 50% of the calories and sodium.

Eggnog

Step…away…from the eggnog. With ingredients like sugar, eggs, whipping cream, and bourbon, this is a nutritional bullet smart revelers will dodge. 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 spiced cider. And if you’re really craving a creamy glass of eggnog, our nog made with unsweetened cocoa powder lightens it up.

Stuffed potatoes

Baked potatoes are rich in vitamin C and fiber, but add in cheese, sour cream, and butter, and you’ve negated most of the health benefits. One medium stuffed potato has 316 calories and 8.25 grams of saturated fat. That’s almost half of your suggested daily upper limit of saturated fat.

Lighten up your potatoes by using low-fat dairy products or adding low-cal veggies like onions and spinach. Or, you can roast sweet potatoes in the oven instead; each has less than half of the calories and only 2.4 grams of total fat.

Creamed spinach

What happens when you combine healthy veggies like corn and spinach with cream, butter, and cheese? A side dish with more than 75% of your saturated fat for the day. Boston Market’s creamed spinach side has 280 calories (almost entirely from fat) and 15 grams of saturated fat.

If you love the creamy taste, make a healthier recipe using low-fat milk and light cream cheese instead of cream. This lowers the total fat per serving to 3.7 grams.

Pot roast

Even the trimmed, lean version of this popular holiday meat contains 7 grams of saturated fat. One 3-ounce serving of traditional beef pot roast has 280 calories and 20 grams of total fat. But think about how many ounces you’re actually adding to your plate, plus the calories from gravy. Much more!

White-meat turkey or even lean beef tenderloin is healthier for your heart. Our herb-roasted turkey recipe has only 180 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.

Fruitcake

Don’t let the name deceive you. Though this sweet treat contains fruit, it can also have plenty of butter, sugar, and corn syrup. One slice we tried clocks in at 410 calories and 13 grams of fat.

You’d actually be better off enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie, which contains about 250 calories per slice as well as beta-carotene. Or, bake this lighter loaf with grits, bananas, and blueberries; it has only 145 calories per slice.

Pecan pie

On their own pecans are a high-cal nut, but combine them with sugar, butter, and corn syrup, and you’ve got a potentially deadly dessert. A single slice will cost you more than 500 calories, 37 grams of fat, and 26 grams of sugar. Still, there’s no reason to skip dessert—try baking something lighter instead. This apple pie has less than a quarter of the fat per slice. And you’re getting additional fiber from the apples as a bonus.

source:   http://www.health.com/health/gallery/thumbnails/0,,20440821,00.html