What is in Your Holiday Meal

Ham vs. Turkey

Turkey is generally a better choice than ham because ham tends to be high in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol. Many store bought hams also have added preservatives and sugar.

Although turkeys can also be high in sodium, there are some better options on the market.

See GoodGuide’s comprehensive guide to choosing a turkey.

Sweet Potatoes

These sweet treats are naturally high in vitamin A and fiber and are delicious roasted with a little olive oil. It is the packaged sweet potatoes that can be loaded with sugar and salt.

Eggnog

If you buy eggnog off-the-shelf, you'll have a tough time controlling the fat and sugar content. Instead, make the holiday cheer at home with nonfat milk, soy milk or even almond milk.

The main ingredients in eggnog are milk, eggs, sugar (or any sweetener) and nutmeg.

Potato Pancakes

Latkes (or potato pancakes) are a Hanukkah staple. Oil is an important part of their tradition... but if you make latkes at home you can control how long the potato mixture stays in the oil and what kind of fat you use.

Sour Cream

A great alternative to sour cream is plain yogurt... and the many Greek yogurts available at grocery stores these days make a very close approximation to sour cream.

Be aware that yogurt can be high in fat just like sour cream, so make sure to pick the low or nonfat ones.