Need a healthy treat to share this Valentine’s Day? These Raspberry Banana Fruit Bites are the perfect snack to share with your loved ones! [Read more…] about Raspberry Banana Fruit Bites
Shepherd’s Pie
Leftover foods from holiday meals shouldn’t have to go to waste! With a little creativity, you can reduce food waste and serve your family another tasty meal using foods that you’ve already prepared. This shepherd’s pie is a filling dish that features mashed potatoes- a side dish that you may already have prepared for your main holiday meal.
Soft Pumpkin Spice Drops
Pumpkin desserts aren’t only for the fall months! This recipe for Soft Pumpkin Spice Drops is a great way to use that leftover can of pumpkin puree. These tasty cookies are also a great way to help keep Santa slim and for everyone to enjoy a healthier dessert this holiday season.
Healthy Holiday Tips
Tis the season for holiday gatherings! This month begins the start of many different holidays; all of which can bring the need for parties and food. The biggest question we always ask, “How do you stay healthy through the holidays?” Here are a few tips you can remember when celebrating this season.
Tip 1: Bring a dish you enjoy!
The hardest part in holiday gatherings is trying to find a food or dish which can be part of your healthy holiday. If you are going to a party which you can bring a dish, bring something which is part of your healthy meal plan. Here is a list of our absolute favorite options for appetizers, snacks and sides perfect for a holiday party.
Tip 2: Be smart with your beverages
Every holiday party has a punch, cocktail, or sweetened beverage. Our tip is not to drink your calories during a gathering. Not only do many of these beverages have lots of added sugar but are high in calories. Save your calories and added sugar and choose either water, sparkling water or unsweetened tea.
Tip 3: Don’t starve yourself throughout the day.
As much as we would like to save all our calories for a holiday party; not eating regular meals throughout the day can lead to overeating. Instead eat regular meals during the day and make those meals count. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and a good source of protein to help keep you satisfied.
Looking for more tips on making healthier holiday choices? Visit choosemyplate.gov for more tips on nutrition during the holiday season.
Composting during the Holiday Season
Every holiday season we seem to have an abundance of food leftovers. Often these food leftovers are thrown out or left to spoil, which contributes to the nearly 38 million tons of wasted food in the United States.
Composting is simply the process of organic material decomposition.
The resulting substance is called compost. If we composted many of the things we throw away, such as kitchen scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and other landscape debris, we could divert 20 to 30 percent of the trash currently going into landfills. By composting these materials, we can reduce the amount of waste we generate and produce organic matter and nutrients for our garden, landscape and yard.
Every garden benefits from the addition of compost because it supplies many of the nutrients plants need. Composting also:
- Improves the soil’s physical characteristics
- Increases the soil capacity to hold water and nutrients
- Increases soil aeration
To learn more about how to compost and help reduce wasted food, check out the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Easy Gardening Series.
Source: Joseph Masabni, Assistant Professor and Extension Horticulturist, and Patrick Lillard, Extension Assistant, Easy Gardening – Composting.
