Five best foods for the holiday season

With the holiday season in full swing, there are a plethora of tasty options to eat and pack on some year-end pounds.

I'm sure you've read plenty of advice on what not to eat, but not a lot on what is good for you. Believe it or not, there are traditional foods you can eat during the holidays, here are the top five.


Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are power packed with beta carotene, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. They taste sweet like dessert because of an enzyme that converts the potato's starches into sugar as it matures and as it cooks. Eat with a little butter, and you have a tasty, nutritious treat that won't bust your waistline.

Cranberries

These anti-oxidant rich berries are also high in fiber and potassium, which make them an ideal snack. They are low in calories and balance well with sweeter fruits such as apples and raisins. Cranberries also have unique anti-bacterial properties that might help prevent urinary tract infections.

Cocoa

We're finding out more and more about the health benefits of chocolate. Clinical studies show that eating small amounts of chocolate (one piece a day is about 30 calories' worth) lowered systolic blood pressure by 2.9 mm/Hg. Choose the dark chocolates for more antioxidants and less sugar.

Turkey

Protein breaks down slowly in the stomach, causing you to feel full longer. Turkey breast is a low-fat, high-protein food that is found aplenty at holiday get togethers. A typical 3-ounce serving of skinless turkey breast clocks in at 120 calories and 1 gram of fat. Eat that bird!

Green Beans

Green beans are one of the best foods you can find holiday season - or any other time of the year. Jammed with vitamins A, C and K, manganese, dietary fiber, potassium, foliate, and iron, green beans taste great steamed, baked or boiled. Don't mess all that up by drowning them in oil and butter. A little salt, and you're on your way.

You can eat healthy this season and actually enjoy it. Along the way, you might even make some new favorites.

Chad Smith is co-owner of Home Team Fitness, LLC, a Hagerstown Personal Training company. For information, visit www.hometeamfitness.net.