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    7 Holiday Eating Hacks That Don't Compromise Taste

    It's easy to boost the nutrition of your favorite dishes—without sacrificing the joy

    Eating healthfully during the holidays can be a challenge. But there’s no reason to skip having your favorite family recipe at celebratory meals once or twice a year, even if it’s no diet food.

    More on holiday eating

    Still, if you’re looking to improve the nutritional value of your holiday dishes, there are plenty of easy substitutions and health hacks you can try that don’t sacrifice the flavor or the fun. Tweaking just one dish can make a difference.

    Here, CR’s nutritionist, Amy Keating shares tips to lighten the load.

    To reveal each tip, click or hover your cursor over the dots (or tap on a mobile device) on the illustration below.

    And a reminder to take a walk: Even a short after-dinner stroll can help prevent post-meal blood sugar spikes that may increase diabetes and heart risks. It also gives your brain time to recognize how full you are, so you eat only the amount of dessert you really want.

    click black dots to learn more.

    Illustration: Chris Philpot

    Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the November 2023 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.


    Catherine Roberts

    Catherine Roberts is a health and science journalist at Consumer Reports. She has been at CR since 2016, covering infectious diseases, bugs and bug sprays, consumer medical devices like hearing aids and blood pressure monitors, health privacy, and more. As a civilian, her passions include bike rides, horror films and fiction, and research rabbit holes. Follow her on X: @catharob.