Healthy Secrets of Holiday Foods

Updated: October 11, 2014
Your average pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole are loaded with nutrition benefits. Here's why you should dig in.
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Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Load up on vitamin A, fiber, and vitamin C with sweet potatoes. Their rich orange color, sweet taste, and creamy texture rank them among our favorite holiday foods.
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Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Recipe
Packed with disease-fighting vitamin A, a slice of pumpkin pie may be just what the doctor ordered.


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Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish

Photo: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan
Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish Recipe
If you go for a second helping of cranberry sauce, you'll receive a boost in fiber. A 1/2 cup serving contains 6 percent of your daily requirements.

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Asian-Spiced Pecans

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Leigh Ann Ross
Asian-Spiced Pecans Recipe
No need to shy away from the spiced pecans bowl during the holidays. It may help you fend off a cold. One ounce provides 10 percent of your daily zinc recommendation, a disease-fighting antioxidant.

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Dry-Cured Rosemary Turkey

Monica Buck
Dry-Cured Rosemary Turkey Recipe
Fill up on a protein-rich food like turkey (sans skin) to keep you full and satiated. A three-ounce serving of skinless turkey breast has about 120 calories and one gram of fat.

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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Garlic, and Shallots

Photo: Charles Masters
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Garlic, and Shallots Recipe
Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of trace minerals, chestnuts, unlike other nuts, are low in fat. One-half cup of brussels sprouts packs a whopping dose of vitamin C.
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Oysters Chesapeake

Randy Mayor
Oysters Chesapeake Recipe
Oysters are a top source of both vitamin B12 and zinc, so don't leave them out of your holiday recipes. If you're looking for holiday ideas, serve oysters as an appetizer.

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Green Beans with Toasted Garlic

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Green Beans with Toasted Garlic Recipe
Boil, steam, or roast green beans for a quick and healthy preparation. Make sure to keep the added butter and cream-sauce to a minimum. Green beans provide loads of nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, and iron.
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