5 Healthy Ways to Enjoy Your Stuffing
By Brandi Goodman
National Stuffing Month takes place in November. The side dish often makes appearances during the winter holidays -- although many people consume it in a fattening form. There are healthier recipes to consider when you want stuffing on the side of your meal. Be sure you're making the appropriate substitutions to help create a more nutritious option.
Load It With Veggies
Many stuffings are all bread and herbs, sometimes with meat thrown in. The veggie-rich options are packed with far more vitamins and nutrients. Load up your stuffing dish with as many vegetables as you like. Finely chopped pieces work well. Onions and celery are common choices, along with mushrooms.
Use Almond Flour Instead of Bread
If you've been making stuffing using pieces of bread, you've been adding unnecessary carbs and calories to the dish. You can bake your stuffing mixture into perfection using almond flour. The flour will rise in the oven and help your dish come to life. Almond flour is a healthier alternative to bleached white flour that's much safer to eat.
Make an Apple Harvest Stuffing
Apples work well in stuffing also. An apple harvest stuffing is perfect for the fall and winter months. Dice the apples up well for small pieces that won't overwhelm the dish. Add cranberries in the mix as well for even more vitamins and a true holiday-inspired dish.
Use Oil Instead of Broth
Broth is often utilized to help moisten the bread or flour and help it cook properly. Broth is also full of sodium, making it less than ideal to have in your diet. You can use oil instead to get that moisture your dish requires. Avocado oil or coconut oil are two of the best options. They're easier on the heart and aren't as fattening as some other options out there.
Eat a Smaller Portion
No matter if you've made changes to the dish or cooked some stuffing from a box, you can still enjoy it. Just be sure you're eating a smaller portion that won't pack on a ton of calories to your day. Even the boxed version is okay if you're eating it in a small amount, and only once in a while.
Finding a dish you love and turning it into something even more nutritious and worthwhile for your well-being is beneficial. Make some substitutions to your stuffing and add the nutrient-rich dish to your holiday plans -- and the meals you desire thereafter.
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