Avoid a post-holiday dinner food coma by incorporating foods high in fiber to aid in digestion. Choose nutrient-dense foods that fill you up and provide energy for family games and socializing. Don’t be the one trying not to fall asleep in a crowded room after dinner.

Here are some easy tips for sneaking more nutrients into your holiday meal!

Use the whole potato. Growing up, my favorite part of holiday dinner was mashed white potatoes and gravy. To increase the fiber quotient in your mashed potatoes, keep the skins on. I like to use red potatoes because the skins are thinner and tasty.

Good gravy! Remove the fat and cholesterol without sacrificing taste using Vegan Gravy. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D, which can aid in preventing colds during the holiday season, when germs are shared so generously.

Incorporate foods with multiple health benefits. Sweet potatoes or yams are high in vitamin B6, a good source of vitamin C and contain vitamin D, iron and magnesium.

Incorporate this power food into your holiday meal and add a little extra spice with Spicy Sweet Potato Salad. 

Fake it ‘til you make it. Recently I discovered a secret in the cooking world – cranberry sauce (recipe below). It is beyond easy to make and yet, everyone loves it. Your guests will think you’re a super-star for making it yourself (where are the aluminum can lines?) Cranberries are a good source of vitamin C, are loaded with antioxidants and have antibacterial effects in the body.

Don’t forget your green-leafies! Do I even have to list the benefits of green, leafy vegetables like kale? It’s been rightfully touted as a super-food and you can incorporate it into your holiday meal with Kale Waldorf Salad. Use it as a side-dish or as a salad appetizer.

Eat your dessert. Get the health benefits of cacao, chocolate and cashews with this sinfully good Raw Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake recipe.

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 12 ounce bag of fresh cranberries
• 3/4 cup of orange juice
• 2/3 cup of agave nectar

Preparation:

1. Heat orange juice and agave nectar in a sauce pan over medium heat until the agave nectar dissolves.
2. Add cranberries and stir occasionally. The cranberry sauce is finished when the cranberries burst (approximately 10-15 minutes).
3. The sauce will gel together as it cools.

All the best to you and yours for a happy and healthy holiday season!