Healthier Holiday Gatherings

(NAPSI)-The holidays don't have to be all about overindulging.

"A little planning can go a long way in helping you stay healthy and enjoy the holidays without regret," says Tammi Hancock, a registered dietitian. "An occasional small treat will help keep you from feeling deprived, but try to keep it to one per day."

Here are a few other tips and tricks to enjoying healthy and happy holidays:

• Don't Go Hungry: It's tough not to dive into the buffet or hit the appetizers hard if you're famished when you arrive at a holiday get-together. Try eating a filling and healthy snack such as apples with peanut butter before the event to help you avoid temptation and make healthier choices. Skip the buffet if you can; or try using a smaller plate so you don't feel tempted to pile it on or end up feeling deprived.

• Gifts From the Heart: Everyone enjoys a holiday cookie exchange or a homemade gift basket of goodies. This year, really wow them with cookies or gifts that are as healthy as they are tasty. It's easy to do with a few simple substitutions. Replace regular butter in your favorite holiday cookies and treats with lighter spreads such as Smart Balance® Butter Blend Stick; it has the same flavor and cooking qualities without all the saturated fat and cholesterol.

• Better Potluck: Instead of bringing a decadent treat or another trans fat-laden dip, lighten up; your friends and family will appreciate the taste and nutrition. Try switching to one of Smart Balance's new sour cream varieties to make great-tasting versions of your favorite dips. Along with great taste, you'll be adding vitamins D and E as well as calcium to the mix.

White Onion Dip

Serves 6; 2-tablespoon servings

2 cups Smart Balance Sour Cream and Omega-3s & Vitamins D and E

4 tablespoons of any Smart Balance milk variety

1 cup very finely chopped white onion

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons salt

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and serve with fresh veggies.

Chef's Tip: Save time before a party-prepare up to 2 hours in advance and refrigerate.

Per serving: 51 calories, 1 gram protein, 2 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fat, 2.3 grams saturated fat, 0 grams monounsaturated fat, 0 grams polyunsaturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg omega-3 fatty acids, 2 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 13 mg cholesterol, 215 mg sodium, 0 grams fiber.

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Let A Jalapeño Dip Spice Up Your Party

(NAPSI)-Jalapeños, probably the most familiar of hot peppers, not only spice up your party as a delicious dip, they have many other beneficial qualities.

Perhaps the most surprising feature of peppers is their nutritiousness: They are an excellent source of many essential nutrients, especially vitamin C. Hot peppers contain even more vitamin C, 357 percent more, than an orange. Moreover, red peppers are quite a good source of beta-carotene.

Peppers have also been known to work as an anti-coagulant, thus possibly helping to prevent heart attacks or strokes caused by a blood clot.

During the winter months, hot peppers are available from Mexico.

Here's a recipe you may want to try:

Jalapeño and Mint dip

Serves four

Ingredients:

2 jalapeños, deseeded

1 cup fresh mint

¼ cup rice wine vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Salt

4 pita pockets, quartered and toasted

Place the jalapeños, mint, vinegar and olive oil in a home blender and puree until smooth; add the mix to the yogurt and stir until blended. Add salt to taste. Serve with the pita chips.

This delicious recipe was developed by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

For more information, please visit www.freshfrommexico.com.

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Roasted Red Pepper Pistachio Dip,

The dip sounded so good I couldn't resist sharing! A group of friends take turns treating each other at various restaurants. I don't know who's next, but this is going to be my choice for the location when it's our turn! They have locations in Buckhead and Perimeter.

Seasons 52 Restaurant Offers Deliciously Healthful Tips for Creating Hearty Winter Fare
Celebrate Light Seasonal Dishes That are Big on Flavor

Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- This winter, Seasons 52 demonstrates that the season's most savory meals can also be the lightest when they're healthfully prepared. The fresh grill restaurant, known for its lighter approach to seasonal fare, encourages do-it-yourself food enthusiasts to abandon preconceived notions of winter food preparation by offering fresh and flavorful culinary options, available on their website at http://www.seasons52.com/.

"The winter months are often associated with comfort foods, and perhaps a little overindulging during the holidays," notes Seasons 52 Executive Chef Clifford Pleau. However, diners and home cooks can enjoy satisfying, yet easy to prepare dishes, by following Chef Pleau's culinary suggestions.

-- To start your evening on a light, lively note, Pleau recommends Roasted Red Pepper Pistachio Dip. (Recipe below)

http://www.seasons52.com/culinary/videos/RedPepperPistachioDip.asp

Roasted red peppers, lime juice, honey, bread crumbs and pistachios are combined in a food processor. Freshly ground cumin offers an additional dash of flavor. The dip can be served with crudite, fish or poultry.

-- For a novel spin on a comfortable classic, Pleau recommends serving sweet potatoes seasoned with a light vinaigrette in place of butter and brown sugar. Simply roast, then cool and slice potatoes into 1/2 inch discs. Brush with your favorite vinaigrette and broil to add color.

-- For a unique side dish, apply Pleau's simple roasting technique to various fruits, such as pears.

http://www.seasons52.com/culinary/videos/RoastedBoscPears.asp

Bosc pears sliced in half and spritzed with olive oil will be glazed with the fruit's natural sugars when roasted in an oven for 30 minutes. Says Pleau, "When roasting fruit, nature provides its own glaze as the sugars concentrate and caramelize; the resulting dish is sweet, nutritious and guilt-free."

No winter meal is complete without the perfect wine pairing. Seasons 52's Master Sommelier George Miliotes understands the art of selecting the ideal vino to maximize your dining experience. -- When serving roast turkey or chicken, Miliotes advises, "really good
Chardonnay never fails ... I recommend a non-oaked varietal, such as a Chablis from France."

-- For a chic wine at a moderate price, Miliotes suggests Spanish white wines made from the Verdejo grape: "Crisp, clean, and palate-cleansing, it pairs well with the diversity of flavors in cocktail party food."

-- Red meat dishes explode with flavor when served with California Cabernets and Merlots from the 2001 vintage, which Miliotes describes as "great wines that are just rounding into their prime."


Roasted Red Pepper Pistachio Dip
Ingredients:
1/4 cup pistachios, shelled and toasted (3 oz)
3/4 cup red peppers, roasted*, peeled and chopped (2 oz)
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 ounce lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon chipotle Tabasco
1/2 teaspoon cumin, toasted
1/2 teaspoon salt, Kosher
Procedure:
-- Toast pistachios in 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Cool to room
temperature.
-- Pulse pistachios in food processor for 30 seconds to chop nuts.
-- Reserve a tablespoon for garnish.
-- Add all other ingredients to bowl of food processor.
-- Blend in food processor for 1 minute until smooth. Refrigerate for
a few hours.
-- Garnish with reserved chopped pistachios.
-- Serve chilled in small bowl with veggies or chips.
*To roast peppers:
Lightly rub a few red peppers with oil. Broil or grill red peppers to
char the skin. Place in a plastic Ziploc(R) bag or covered container
30 minutes. Remove peels & seeds.

About Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is an award-winning fresh grill restaurant offering a seasonally inspired menu featuring flavorful, lower calorie dishes and an adventurous selection of international wines. Seasons 52 has locations in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach Gardens and in the Perimeter and Buckhead areas of Atlanta.