It's my favourite time of the year! Christmas holidays are just around the corner, and I can't wait for the lights, holiday music, and colourful decorations that come along with them. Heck, I'll even tolerate a bout of snow for a few weeks, so long as it's defeated by the warmth of holiday joy. Ok…so I'm a bit of a Christmas fanatic, but how can you blame me with all the good stuff I just described going on, not to mention the addition of some cozy and delicious holiday treats? It is this last item that typically gets people a little scared.

“Holiday treats” usually mean the addition of five pounds over the break that will need to be worked off ASAP, as noted in peoples' New Year's resolutions. Well, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be like that this year; holiday goodies don't have to be bad for you, in order to make them desirable. The trick is to find a balance between the healthy and not-so-healthy foods, that it simply wouldn't be a proper Christmas without.

Although it grows naturally within warm climates, over time, the pomegranate has gotten connected with the Christmas season. Despite its lack of ties to the whole “winter wonderland” theme (although I believe it is connected to the more religious importance of the holiday), the pomegranate is not only a delicious fruit, but an extremely healthy one, too. Replacing dessert with any fruit is a smart choice, especially one so high in fibre and antioxidants as the pom.

Hot chocolate is a seasonal necessity to warm up any chilly soul on those cold winter nights. Add a little brandy and cinnamon and your soul will go from warm to on fire! Beating out the powdered stuff in terms of both flavour and health benefits, homemade hot chocolate is easy to make. It's really just a matter of melting a good quality dark chocolate in a stainless steel bowl, over a pot of boiling water, while whisking in some heated milk or soy milk. I also enjoy heating chocolate soy or almond milk until it reaches a slight boil, and then adding a sprinkle of nutmeg and clove, before pouring the mixture into a giant mug to enjoy by my Christmas tree.

During the Christmas season baked goods are always available making it tempting to indulge in a cookie or loaf to take part in “the holiday spirit.” While it is perfectly okay to do so once in a while, I encourage you to bake your own goodies this year instead. Not only will you know what is in them for sure ingredient-wise, but you can also experiment with using healthier ingredients to replace the not-so-spectacular ones. With shortbread, ginger loaf, fruitcake and more, it would be torture to go without having a taste. So, why not replace powdered ginger with some that's freshly grated, and/or add more apples to your crumble? There is a whole science to replacing the fat in foods with healthier alternatives, and you'll never know until you try!

So this year, while I encourage you to be mindful of your consumption choices, don't think it means you can't have that slice of pie, bite of banana loaf, or sip of hot chocolate as a result. Enjoy the season with all of its festive delights and you can enjoy your holiday goodies if you take my advice.