Tips for Healthy Eating over the Holidays... and a recipe for a simple Christmas appetizer

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Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a registered dietitian at my local Atlantic Superstore. I participated in an in-office consultation, and I took advantage of my store's "shop with a dietitian" program. I learned a lot of simple tips for improving the eating habits of my family, and I got some fantastic ideas that will help us eat better over the holidays. Today, I am sharing the tips I learned... including a recipe for an easy and delicious holiday appetizer.

Here are some of "healthy eating over the holidays" tips that my local dietitian Ellen gave me:

1) Eat healthy snacks. Try to eat snacks that include both fibre and protein to help you stay full longer. If you feel full, you are less likely to overeat at meal times... or when you are attending a holiday party or gathering.

2) Plan meals. Try to plan meals ahead of time so that when things get busy, you are still able to stay on track. Ellen had tons of ideas for eating on the go, eating on a budget and feeding a young family.

3) Stock the fridge, freezer and pantry with healthy convenience items. Pre-cut veggies, frozen vegetables, and high fibre/low sodium frozen food items can be super-helpful to have on hand this time of year.

4) Find balance. Don't deprive yourself of the tasty treats that are abundant during the holiday season, but try not to go overboard. Balance indulgent treats with healthy options like fruits and veggies. 

This strawberry and goat cheese appetizer with a balsamic glaze was recommended to me by the dietitian I met with, and is based on a President's Choice recipe you can find here. I love how simple this recipe is, and it's red and green, so it's the perfect holiday appetizer. 

Here's how I made my version:

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Glaze

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette
• extra virgin olive oil
• balsamic glaze
• strawberries
• goat cheese
• fresh basil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut baguette on an angle... about 1cm thick.
• Brush one side of the baguette with olive oil, bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 10 minutes, remove from oven, and let cool.
• Top each baguette with 1 tsp of goat cheese, sliced strawberries, and basil.
• Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and serve immediately.

Isn't this a festive looking red and green appetizer? I love how easy it is to make. If you know how to toast bread, you can make this impressive looking holiday treat.

If you are interested in improving the eating habits of your family, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with the dietitian at your local Atlantic Superstore. They offer a variety of services tailored to you and your family's nutrition needs and goals, including: nutrition consultations, phone check-ins, practical shopping tips, meal ideas, healthy weight management programs, and more. You can set up an appointment online here to meet with Ellen or a dietitian at your local store. (And, if you aren't ready to sign up for a one-on-one consultation yet, there are also free workshops you can sign up for. Check your local store for the topics and times.)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I have partnered with Atlantic Superstore and have received compensation for this post; however, as always, all opinions on this blog are 100% my own.