These holiday foods can be dangerous if you are not careful!

The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year, and no one can deny that. Besides the gifts and the time you spend with your loved ones, there is another thing that makes a lot of people happy, and that is the large selection of holiday foods.

We love to eat, and sometimes it feels physically impossible not to relish in all the comforts this season brings with it. We are referring to the high-calorie, decadent foods and beverages that can make you completely forget that you are on a diet. All the progress you made the whole year will be gone in just a few weeks if you are not careful about the holiday foods.

An analysis of much research published in the Journal of Obesity discovered that the Christmas season, which begins in the last week of November and finishes in the very first week of January, is related to a considerable weight increase in adults. According to the study, people gained between 0.4 and 0.9 kilos (1 to 2 pounds) throughout the holiday season.

Now we don’t say that you should stop eating holiday foods altogether, but moderation is key. Also, there are indeed some foods you should avoid at all costs because they negatively affect your health and make you gain weight fast.

So let’s see what these dangerous foods are!

Christmas pudding

This is one of the holiday foods that you can’t miss from your table, or at least this is what most people say. In reality, it would be a much better idea to never eat this at all.

We know that it is traditional and incredibly flavorful, but Christmas pudding is one of the main culprits for holiday weight gain. This cake is made entirely of ingredients that can quickly add up in calories, such as flour, breadcrumbs, sugar, butter, and brandy butter.

It’s easy to say that the brandy butter alone is a calorie bomb in itself. It’s hard to say no to this dessert because its dense texture and sweet profile are incredible, but at the end of the day, your health is more important.

What you should do is never eat a full portion. Aim for a smaller one. This means you can still enjoy this dessert without worrying about all the calories. This is the best strategy you can use when you want to avoid that Santa belly.

Tamales

This is one of the favorite holiday foods in many Central and South American cultures and also parts of the Caribbean. It’s not easy to cook tamales, and this is why they are reserved only for holidays.

Experienced dietitians say that this is the first food they warn their clients about. Why? Because these delights are as rich in flavor as they are in calories. Generally, they are made by spreading a thick layer of dough (masa) onto a corn or banana leaf. Then they are stuffed with a variety of fillings—ranging from meats and cheeses to sweet fruits—and after that, they are steamed, and this is how you get one of the most delicious holiday foods.

Now if you eat some tamales at the Christmas table, this is not a big deal, but many times people eat them the whole holiday season, and this is how they gain weight incredibly fast. Try to be more conscious when you eat, and everything should be fine.

Eggnog

This creamy, spiced drink is something that is never missing when we are talking about holiday foods. We all love the warm, nostalgic feelings this beverage carries, and most of the time we drink so much more than we should. After all, it’s delicious, and we can’t help it, right? Or at least this is what most of us are telling ourselves to feel better.

A single cup of eggnog contains a hefty 250 to 300 calories! This is equal to a snack, but you get no nutritional benefits. The traditional eggnog recipe has some calorie-dense ingredients like eggs, cream, sugar, and sometimes alcohol. This results in a drink that is packed with sugar that will make you gain some unwanted pounds if you don’t consume it in moderation.

The problem is that eggnog is very tricky, and sometimes it will be hard for you to avoid it. Whether served as a solo treat, enhanced with rum or bourbon, or mixed into sweets, it’s all too simple to consume the calorie equivalent of a whole meal before even realizing it.

Sweet potato casserole

Of all holiday foods, this is for sure one of the favorites! Who wouldn’t want to eat some mighty sweet potatoes, full of flavor and covered in indulgent toppings like butter, sugar, and marshmallows? This dish is very comforting, and this is why it is so hard to stop eating once you start.

The truth is that sweet potatoes are not inherently bad. They are incredibly nutritious, and many dietitians recommend them, but the problem here is all the toppings. Butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows are empty calories that turn this healthy vegetable into a calorie bomb. One bigger serving can easily exceed 300 calories, with little protein or fiber to balance it out.

Once again, you can still enjoy this dish, but you have to be careful and not eat too much. You can also change the recipe for a healthier version, swapping marshmallows for toasted nuts or using less sugar and butter.

Holiday cookies

This is the ultimate holiday treat. Of all holiday foods, cookies bring joy to any table and are perfect for evenings spent together with your loved ones. But these cookies are also the sneaky culprits that will make you gain extra pounds. Maybe you might say it’s weird that you weigh more now because you didn’t even eat that much, but all this time the cookies were to blame.

The problem with the holiday cookies is that they are very addictive. It’s very hard to stop after just one or two. You will want more, and in the end, this is how you get the Santa belly. gingerbread, sugar cookies, shortbread, and snickerdoodles You should stay away from all of them because each cookie can have 70-150 calories!

The real issue lies in the refined sugar content. Also, the lack of fiber and protein means cookies will not satisfy your hunger, and you’ll only crave more. Next time you are at the holiday table, try not to sample the whole platter and limit yourself to your favorite cookies.

So, we know that the holiday season is a time to celebrate, indulge, and create memories with your loved ones. Food is clearly one of the things that plays a special role here but if you don’t want a Santa belly you should pay attention to what you eat. By being mindful of portion sizes and opting for healthier recipe alternatives you can have the best Christmas ever and also don’t feel bad afterwards.

If you want to learn more about this, here is a book that can help: 100 Healthy Christmas Recipes: From The Healthy Christmas Cookbook To The Table

You should also read: Turning 50? These 5 Foods Should Be Off the Menu