Preparing For the Holidays

Tools to Help You Navigate Through the Holiday Season

1
Take Control of the Holidays!

• Identify common holiday stressors

• Examine the cause of stress during the holidays
• Review strategies overcome stress and regain control of your
holidays
• Create a holiday budget that you will stick with

2
Cooking for Events

• Solidify your strategy

• Empty out your fridge and freezer of
unnecessary items
• Don’t make everything from scratch
• Prep and make dishes ahead of time
• Stick to foods that you know
• Host a partial potluck
• Have a clean-up plan

3
Food Safety Guidelines

• Defrost carefully
• Wash hands before,
during and after food
preparation
• Keep kitchen surfaces
clean
• Use two cutting
boards
• Buy and use a food
thermometer
• Refrigerate food within
two hours of serving

4
Healthy Eating for the Holidays

• Don’t skip meals Homemade Chai Tea Mix

• Ask yourself: “Am I still enjoying this?” Ingredients: 1 cup nonfat

dry milk, ½ cup sugar, ½ tsp
• Eat those vegetables ground ginger, ½ tsp
cardamom, ½ tsp cinnamon,
¼ tsp allspice, 1/8 tsp
• Savor you meal nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cloves,
Dash of red pepper
• Eat what you love
Directions: Combine all
• Try alternating between water & alcohol ingredients; store in airtight
container for up to 6 months
• Keep moving & avoid the food coma in pantry.
To prepare, stir 1.5 Tbsp tea
• Lose the guilt! mix into 8 oz hot brewed
black tea.

5
Making Healthy Recipe Updates to Classic
Holiday Foods

• Lighten up holiday offerings without sacrificing Winter Salad with Candied

taste with these simple swaps: Walnuts & Balsamic Fig
– Two egg whites in place of one whole egg Dressing
– Low-sodium vegetable broth to reduce butter &
margarine in mashed potatoes Contains: walnuts*, maple
– Applesauce for oil, margarine or butter in baked syrup, cinnamon, crushed
goods red pepper, mixed greens,
arugula, pomegranate arils,
– Plain Greek yogurt for dips, sauces, & pie toppings dried cranberries, goat
– Sliced almonds in place of fried onion rings cheese, balsamic vinegar &
– Simple ingredient dishes over complicated ones fig preserves

• Pack your table with fruits and vegetables

*Substitute raw pepitas for
– Winter veggies like sweet potato, winter squash, walnuts, if allergic to tree
broccoli, carrots & green beans nuts
– Fruits go well in salads, fruit crisps or topping for
turkey

6
Stay Healthy

7
Connectedness

Choice

Environment Outlook

Rest Activity

Interpersonal
Nutrition
Relationships

Trust

8
THANK YOU