‘Tis the season to be eatin’!

Between the hot apple pies, the buttered dinner rolls, the savory gravy and the cool taste of a sugary candy cane, it’s hard to stay slim over the holiday break. According to Good Housekeeping magazine: eggnot, creamy soups, fudge, gravy and, of course, that delightful holiday pie are the fattiest foods to enjoy when you celebrate the winter season.

And you were planning to eat all of them, right?

Good Housekeeping also says that “the average person gains about one pound each year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s (some studies indicate up to five pounds).”

But flavor and deliciousness doesn’t always have to be sacrificed to make healthier eating choices. Southfield High School nutritionist Elam Leucas gives these tips to help your food stay tasty and your stomach stay flat during the holidays and other times of the year, too:

KICK THE CAN:

Leucas says that, for convenience matters, most people use canned vegetables instead of fresh vegetables, which is a big no-no. Leucas recommends “freshly bought fruits and vegetables. That way you are more in control of what you are eating because you yourself have seasoned and prepared the food.” But be careful. Leucas also says that “if you have cooked your vegetables until they’ve become squishy, you have dissolved away almost all of their nutritional value.” And what good are vegetables without any nutrients?

 BAKE IT:

Leucas also recommends steaming and baking rather than boiling and frying. Steaming and baking involve fewer calories than frying; boiling destroys nutrient.

OLIVE YOU:

Whenever possible, use olive oil instead of canola oil. Olive oil is better for you and for your waistline.

 ‘TIS THE SEASONING:

Season with natural flavors, such as fresh garlic, rather than garlic seasoning and prepare your own chicken and beef stock instead of using canned broth, which is often over salted.

Some people have already started their healthy holiday missions and are coming along very well. Security Officer Lawanda Williams says that when the holiday season comes around, she makes her special Fruit Trifle with layers of fruit, angel cake and whipped cream. Yum!

For others, like school chef Austin Jackson, they like to keep the classic holiday foods on their table. He says that he makes Sweet Potato pie at home instead of buying it because it saves time, money and tastes better!

To keep your holiday hunger satisfied without added fat, http://www.shape.com/offers these swaps:

• Grilled celery sticks instead of dinner rolls

• Wild rice instead of breaded stuffing

• Sugar free hot chocolate over eggnog

• Lean turkey over ham.

 With these holiday tips, whether you’re a man made of gingerbread or a man who just likes to eat gingerbread, you can enjoy your holidays and be a little healthier.