10 Holiday Foods You Shouldn't Eat

Hot buttered rum

Sipping a warm cocktail by the fire on a cold winter evening sounds enticing. However, the calorie count may scare you away: One cup of hot buttered rum has over 300 calories and 13 grams of fat—not to mention tons of added melted butter and sugar. The dangerous concoction also has 40 milligrams of cholesterol, one-seventh of the USDA's recommended daily intake in just one drink!

It's tough to reduce the count when rum is involved. Still, there are slightly healthier versions like our spicy rum punch. You're still taking in 200 calories, but no fat or cholesterol.

Lobster Newburg

This classic entree is beyond decadent. Lobster is healthy seafood, but the sauce is the dish's downfall. Flour, butter, and milk create a thick and creamy puree that should be avoided at all costs. One small cup is worth 605 calories and 49 grams of fat. Nearly enough fat for an entire day, according to USDA recommendations.

If you prepare lobster for your family during the holiday season, go for lighter recipes like this lobster panzanella made with fresh lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. Served with a piece of whole-wheat toast, this dish is just as filling, but clocks in at only 167 calories and 6 grams of fat.

Yule log or Bûche de Noël

With primary ingredients like chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and sponge cake, a slice of Yule log can account for half a day's worth of calories. Some recipes even toss in a cup of toasted pecans and coconut. One serving of Betty Crocker's Bûche de Noël boasts 420 calories and 47 grams of sugar—almost double the amount the American Heart Association's recommends eating per day.

Looking for a lighter selection? Save over 100 calories by picking up a piece of this cranberry upside-down cake instead.

Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha

A Grande (16 oz.) serving of this seductive Starbucks beverage has 540 calories. And that's with only 2% milk! The white-chocolate- and peppermint-flavored syrups, whipped cream, and dark chocolate make up 76 grams of sugar, three times the amount of added sugar the American Heart Association suggests per day.

Enjoy the same warmth and sweetness when drinking this hot chocolate—a lighter homemade version with only 194 calories and little added sugar.

Caramel apples

Making caramel apples can be an entertaining holiday activity, and they are enjoyable to eat too. However, the caramel sauce is pure sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, melted with a bit of milk. Though apples are high in vitamins and dietary fiber, the treat packs about 320 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 28 grams of sugar (more than the AHA-recommended 25 grams per day).

There's no healthy equivalent (because apple slices with peanut butter just isn't the same), but limit the amount of sauce on each apple and watch your portions. Or, forget the sauce and drizzle some fat-free caramel sundae syrup on top.

Gingerbread

Gingerbread people and houses may look inviting with their smiles made of frosting and gumdrop decor, but don't be fooled! They're packing plenty of calories. Gingerbread cake is even worse, with large quantities of buttermilk, flour, and sugar. One small piece of cake has 260 calories, 36 carbs, and 12 grams of fat.

Stick with small cookies—you can still shape them into people! And use light icing to decorate. Most gingerbread is rich in fiber too!

Sugar cookies

Santa's health may be in jeopardy if you feed him too many sugar cookies this Christmas. The classic recipe is pretty simple, but the amount of all-purpose flour, butter, and egg used is unnecessary. An average cookie can contain over 200 calories and 14 grams of sugar.

For a healthier batch, use egg whites and less butter to keep saturated fat and cholesterol low, and a touch of whole-wheat flour to add fiber.

Plum pudding

Often referred to as Christmas pudding, this dessert is dangerously heavy. Not only does the traditional recipe ask you to put molasses, brandy, and candied fruit in the batter, the concoction is also baked in a greased and sugared pudding mold. Recipes estimate that one serving of plum pudding contains about 360 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 30 grams of sugar (5 grams more than your daily upper limit).

Luckily, there are lighter versions out there, like our steamed pudding with healthier ingredients like applesauce, low-fat milk, and a small amount of light molasses. This dessert is still high in calories, but it has less fat and added sugar

Mashed potatoes

Mashing potatoes never hurt anyone, but whole milk, butter, and salt can cram in the calories, cholesterol, and fat. One serving clocks in at 237 calories with 9 grams of fat and 666 milligrams of sodium. This count doesn't include added salt, butter, or sour cream!

If you can't live without this much-loved side dish, use low-fat milk and limit adding butter and salt. Or, bake something new, like this side dish of seasoned potatoes.

Candy canes

There's no way to avoid the fact that candy canes are pure sugar and vinegar. They're only 60 calories apiece but don't offer any nourishment. Rather than making them a mid-afternoon snack in the month of December, use the canes as Christmas-tree decorations.

Get creative in the kitchen with other joyful treats that have some nutritional value, like this festive candy made with white chocolate, dried cranberries, and almonds.
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25 Healthy Recipes for a Vegetarian Feast

Cheesy Squash Casserole

Low-fat dairy products allow you to enjoy this Thanksgiving favorite guilt free.

Ingredients: Yellow squash, onion, margarine, flour, skim milk, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs

Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 20–25 minutes

Three-Cheese-and-Sage Ravioli

The name of this dish may be deceiving?it also contains vitamin-rich Swiss chard.

Ingredients: Shallots, red Swiss chard, part-skim ricotta cheese, goat cheese, Parmesan cheese, sage, wonton wrappers, pesto

Prep: 30 minutes; cook: 10 minutes

Roasted Squash Stuffed With Corn Bread Dressing

This hearty dish will satisfy your need for comfort food while still sneaking in plenty of seasonal veggies.

Ingredients: Maple corn bread, acorn squash, cranberries, currants, onion, celery, carrots, sage, garlic, vegetable broth, pecans, parsley

Prep: 1 hour 35 minutes; cook: 30 minutes

Mushroom and Caramelized-Shallot Strudel

Mushrooms recreate the savory taste of meat in this rich dish.

Ingredients: Shallots, sugar, mushrooms, Marsala, low-fat sour cream, parsley, thyme, phyllo dough, breadcrumbs, butter

Prep: 45 minutes; cook: 20 minutes

Braised Shallots and Fall Vegetables With Red Wine Sauce

The red wine sauce gives the fall vegetables a decadent texture.

Ingredients: Shallots, butter, carrots, mushrooms, parsnips, rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, garlic

Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 20 minutes

Lasagna With Fall Vegetables, Gruy貥, and Sage B飨amel

Although this protein-packed dish involves several steps, most can be done a couple of days in advance.

Ingredients: Flour, skim milk, onion, sage, shallots, bay leaf, garlic, fresh spinach, portobello mushrooms, sweet potato, Gruy貥 cheese, Parmesan cheese, lasagna noodles

Prep: 40 minutes; cook: 30 minutes

Baby Carrots With Dill Butter and Lemon

This dish is the definition of simple, yet satisfying. And it packs plenty of vitamin A.

Ingredients: Vegetable broth, carrots, butter, dill, chives, lemons

Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 10 minutes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans

Brussels sprouts are a good source of vitamin K and folate.

Ingredients: Brussels sprouts, pecans, garlic

Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 20–25 minutes
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9 Great Recipes for Leftover Turkey

Turkey is really about leftovers

Holiday dinners will likely leave you with mounds of leftover turkey. This lean meat is low in fat and an excellent source of protein, so don't let it go to waste.

But you don't have to settle for another boring turkey sandwich.

Here are nine original—and tasty—recipes to help you create great meals using leftover turkey.

Turkey-Broccoli Bake

Incorporating unsalted butter and low-sodium broth in this recipe makes it perfect for those watching their salt intake. If you’re looking to cut down on fat, use only the white meat.

For a lighter version, substitute olive oil for the butter and replace the heavy cream with either milk or half-and-half.

Serves: 6

Calories: 320 per 1 1/2 cups serving

Turkey Tostadas

Take your turkey leftovers south of the border with this recipe. Using turkey instead of beef will take off 7 grams of saturated fat, while the whole-wheat tortilla increases your fiber intake.

Serves: 4

Calories: 395 per tostada

Thai Curry Turkey

Wake up from your turkey-induced trance by tossing leftover sweet potatoes and turkey into this spicy dish. By using light coconut milk and no oil, you'll slash as much as 30 grams of fat and cut your sodium by a quarter.

Serves: 4

Calories: 382 per 1 cup turkey and 1 1/4 cups rice

Turkey Lasagna

Lasagna is notorious for having a lot of cheese, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol. This recipe calls for low-fat and reduced-fat cheese, making it a much healthier option. Throw in some spinach for a great source of fiber.

Serves: 9

Calories: 283 per slice
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11 Foods for Healthy Bones 01

Salmon

Salmon is known for having plenty of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but a 3-ounce piece of sockeye salmon contains more than 100% of your vitamin D. So eat up for your heart and your bones.

Spinach

Don’t eat dairy products? Spinach will be your new favorite way to get calcium. One cup of cooked spinach contains almost 25% of your daily calcium, plus fiber, iron, and vitamin A.

Fortified cereal

Certain cereals—like Kashi U Black Currants and Walnuts, Total Whole Grain, and Wheaties—contain up to 25% of your daily vitamin D. When you don’t have time to cook salmon or get out in the sun, cereals can be a tasty way to get your vitamin D.

Tuna

Tuna, another fatty fish, is a good source of vitamin D. Three ounces of canned tuna contains 154 IU, or about 39% of your daily dose of the sunshine vitamin. Try these low-cal Tuna-Melt Tacos as a way to sneak in vitamin D and calcium.

Collard greens

Like spinach, this leafy green often enjoyed south of the Mason-Dixon line is full of calcium. One cup of cooked collards contains more than 25% of your daily calcium. Plus you can easily sneak it into your favorite foods, like this über-healthy frittata.

Orange juice

A glass of fresh-squeezed OJ doesn’t have calcium or vitamin D, but it’s often fortified to contain these nutrients. Try Tropicana's Calcium + Vitamin D to get a boost of these essentials.

Also, studies have shown that the ascorbic acid in OJ may help with calcium absorption, so you may be more likely to get the benefits of this fortified drink. 
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5-Minute Fat Burners 02

Jog

Jog in place while waiting for your nails to dry

45 calories

Sled

Go for a quick sled run down the nearest hill

40 calories

Bounce

Bounce on a stability ball during the commercials while watching Frosty the Snowman

58 calories

Bend

Sample one of the free workouts on the New Pilates app you just downloaded from iTunes

Play

Take on any challengers in a game of Ping-Pong

23 calories
 

Push-up

Do as many push-ups as you can

45 calories
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21 Celebs Who Embraced Natural Medicine

Richard Gere

One of Hollywood's most famous Buddhists, Gere started meditating at age 24 and continues to do so daily. He told PBS that it's a creative process involving finding "the space between thoughts" and that it's different for him every time.

The relaxation technique can ease a range of ailments—including chronic pain, depression, and insomnia—and it may even help smokers quit.

Olivia Newton-John

Along with chemotherapy, the singer and actress used complementary treatments such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, meditation, and visualization to battle breast cancer. When she was first diagnosed in 1992, she even considered forgoing chemotherapy entirely in favor of homeopathic treatments and acupuncture, but eventually "common sense prevailed," she told CNN.

Maintaining a positive mindset throughout the experience also helped her heal, she said.

Russell Simmons

The hip-hop mogul may not seem like the typical meditation practitioner, but he's been getting his om on for over a decade.

In a 2010 blog on the Huffington Post, Simmons wrote that meditation "has given me energy, strength, health, wisdom, and access to my own inner stillness, inner silence, inner bliss. It is my connection to myself; it is my connection to the universe."

Madonna

After claiming that urinating on your feet is a cure for athlete's foot on The Late Show With David Letterman in 1994, it's not surprising that Madonna has ascribed to some strange natural cures. Today, the buff performer is a fan of more mainstream alternative practices, such as yoga.

James Hetfield

A sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll-loving guitarist and singer isn't the typical poster boy for natural remedies. But in 2008, Metallica's Hetfield told the Houston Chronicle in order to get through the band's tour to promote that year's Death Magnetic album, he was trying out some alternative treatments, including reflexology, acupuncture, and drinking a "secret vegetable concoction."

Steve McQueen

The bad-boy actor was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the lung lining, in 1979. He traveled to Mexico in July 1980 to be treated with pancreatic enzymes, a controversial therapy developed by a dentist who had since been "blacklisted" by the American Cancer Society, the New York Times reported.

McQueen is also said to have received 50 daily vitamins and minerals, psychotherapy, coffee enemas, and injections made from sheep and cattle fetuses, all while taking part in healing massages and prayer sessions. After additional treatments with laetrile, a controversial apricot-pit-based injection, McQueen said he was in recovery, but he died shortly thereafter, following surgery to remove cancer from his abdomen and neck.
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4 Delicious Holiday Baked Goods

Afternoon delights

Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread

Ingredients: Baking spray with flour, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground cardamom, ground allspice, eggs, egg white, 2% reduced fat milk, canola oil, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds

Calories: 184

Zucchini-Fig Mini Cakes

Ingredients: Baking spray with flour, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground nutmeg, egg, egg white, low-fat plain yogurt, extra-virgin olive oil, grated zucchini, dried figs, powdered sugar (optional)

Calories: 178

Banana-Coconut Muffins

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ripe bananas, egg, egg white, canola oil, vanilla extract, coconut milk, unsweetened shredded coconut

Calories: 265

Chocolate Marble Cake

Ingredients: Cake: Baking spray with flour, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, light sour cream, plain almond milk, applesauce, unsalted butter, eggs, egg whites, vanilla extract, unsweetened chocolate, unsweetened cocoa powder Glaze: Powdered sugar, unsalted butter, unsweetened cocoa

Calories: 219
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10 Apple Pie and Cake Recipes 03

Apple Spice Cake

Spices are a diet-friendly way to enhance flavor without adding calories or fat, and they can even benefit your health. The vegetable oil and low-fat buttermilk in this recipe cut out loads of buttery fat from traditional versions.

Ingredients: Brown sugar, fat-free cream cheese, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg, low-fat buttermilk, Braeburn apples, brandy (optional), powdered sugar

Calories: 205 per slice

Double Apple Crumble

Worried about pie presentation? Dole out individual servings of this warming fall treat instead. A hint of butter gives this dessert a full, rich flavor without loading up on fat.

Ingredients: Braeburn apples, apple butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter, pecans

Calories: 251 per slice

Apple-Cranberry Bake With Streusel Topping

The flavors of fall reign supreme in this tart treat. Cranberries are naturally low in calories and rich in fiber, vitamin C, and cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Ingredients: Cranberry juice cocktail, sugar, cranberries, red currant jelly, butter, Rome apples, water, flour, brown sugar, walnuts

Calories: 191 per slice
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10 Careers With High Rates of Depression 2

Artists, entertainers, writers

These jobs can bring irregular paychecks, uncertain hours, and isolation.

Creative people may also have higher rates of mood disorders; about 9% reported an episode of major depression in the previous year.

In men, it’s the job category most likely to be associated with an episode of major depression (nearly 7% in full-time workers).

“One thing I see a lot in entertainers and artists is bipolar illness,” says Legge. “There could be undiagnosed or untreated mood disorders in people who are artistic…. Depression is not uncommon to those who are drawn to work in the arts, and then the lifestyle contributes to it.”

Teachers

The demands on teachers seem to be constantly growing. Many work after school and then take work home.

In many areas, they learn to do a lot with a little.

“There are pressures from many different audiences—the kids, their parents, and the schools trying to meet standards, all (of which) have different demands,” Willard says. “This can make it difficult for teachers to do their thing and remember the reason they got started in the field.”

Administrative support staff

People in this field can suffer from a classic case of high demand, low control.

They are on the front line, taking orders from all directions. But they are also at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of control and “everything filters down,” according to Legge.

They can have unpredictable days and may not be acknowledged for all of the work that they do to make life easier for everyone else

Maintenance and grounds workers

How would you like to be called on only when something goes wrong? That’s essentially what maintenance people deal with each day.

They also have to work odd hours, seasonal or varied schedules, and frequent night shifts. They are often paid little for a tough job that can include cleaning up other people’s messes.

“There is also higher turnover. In terms of co-workers, they are often isolated, and it can be dangerous work,” Willard says.

Financial advisors and accountants

Stress. Stress. Stress. Most people don’t like dealing with their own retirement savings. So can you imagine handling thousands or millions of dollars for other people?

“There is so much responsibility for other people’s finances and no control of the market,” Legge says. “There is guilt involved, and when (clients) are losing money, they probably have people screaming at them with regularity.”

Salespeople

People who work in sales are No. 10 on the list, though there are a whole host of reasons why the job could contribute to depression.

Many salespeople work on commission, meaning you never know exactly when your next paycheck is coming. They may travel, and have to spend time away from home, family, and friends.

If they work independently, benefits may also be limited.

“This uncertainty of income, tremendous pressure for results, and long hours” can make for a high-stress occupation, Legge says.

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