Food and Thought Newsletter - December 2024

December 3, 2024

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Mindful Eating Through The Holidays: Finding Dietary Balance

High Calorie Holiday Foods: Know The Numbers.
Many of the high-calorie foods on the holiday table, are also high in fat, sodium (salt), sugar, and simple carbohydrates—all of which can leave us feeling sluggish, anxious or even irritable. Having a little knowledge about the worst offenders can help us to make healthier holiday choices!

                                                                                    

Food  Calories Fat  Sodium Sugar
Mashed Potatoes w/milk and butter (1cup) 237 7-8gms 590mgs  
Turkey Gravy (homemade, 1 cup)  121 5gms 1373mgs 0.5gms
Green Bean Casserole (1cup)  191 10gms 932mgs 2.5gms
Stuffing (1cup) 342 20gms 589gms 2.7 gms
Cranberry Sauce (from can, 1 cup) 440   0.1gm 9mgs 22 gms
Pumpkin pie (1 slice)  320  13-14gms 330mgs 25gms
Apple pie (1 slice) 300 10-14gms 75mgs 20-30gms

 

Don’t Tip the Scale: Some Hints For Health(ier) Eating Through the Holiday Season:
1. When possible, eat fresh foods, not packaged.
2. Eat a health snack, like a small apple or 10 almonds before the meal, to minimize hunger and the risk of overeating.
3. Say yes to your favorites, but in moderation—i.e. a small slice of pie versus a large one. Say no to those you don’t absolutely love!
4. Eat slowly to avoid overeat-ing!
5. Take a walk after dinner to aid digestion and give your stomach a break.

Sources for this month’s newsletter: have been taken from an online search engine that used AI generated data. All figures are approximations and may vary by brand, portion size, etc…

The Food and Thought Program works to promote awareness and provide short term counselling around the important link between. nutrition and emotional health. For more information or for a referral to the program, please contact the Food and Thought Program at 781-599-0110.

This work is supported by the Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospital Community Benefits Community Grant Program and the Essex County Community Foundation Behavioral Health Partnership Grant.

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