How to Save 1,000 Calories at Holiday Meals

By Andrea Cohen
Published 11/1/2023
In This Article
How to Save 1,000 Calories at Holiday Meals

These food swaps can save you loads of calories. Try our best low calorie holiday recipes.

Who can resist the mouth-watering foods served at Thanksgiving, Christmas and other seasonal holidays? Afterall, these wonderful holiday dinners only come around once a year. It’s easy to consume thousands of calories in a single meal on these occasions. That’s more than you would typically eat in a day or even multiple days!

While it’s okay to overeat once in a while, and a holiday or special occasion is a good excuse to chow down, it’s very possible to eat a holiday dinner without going off the rails. These food swaps can save you over 1,000 calories in just one meal! Exercising portion control while enjoying indulgent favorite foods you wait all year long to eat can also go a long way in helping you manage holiday calories.

Holiday Food Swaps to Save 1,000 Calories

  • Drinks

    Every glass of wine or beer or cocktail you drink clocks in at 100 calories or more. Have a glass of water or seltzer between drinks to save hundreds of calories. It will also keep you hydrated so you’ll be less likely to experience a hangover the next day.

    Approx. calorie savings (2 glasses of wine): 250

  • Healthy Holiday Main Dishes

    The main event at holiday meals is usually a relatively simple protein, such as turkey, chicken, roast beef or ham. White meat proteins without the skin will save you calories over fattier cuts of meat. How the meat is cooked also makes a difference. For example, eat roasted turkey breast without the skin instead of a fried turkey leg with the skin.

    Approx. calorie savings: 125

  • Holiday Veggie Substitutes

    Want to save your calories for something truly indulgent? Skip the green bean casserole and other creamy veggie dishes and have steamed or roasted veggies instead. This way, you’ll save up some calories to spend on other decadent side dishes.

    Approx. calorie savings: 150

  • Healthy Potato Casseroles

    A baked sweet potato with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a few roasted potatoes can save you loads of calories compared to potato dishes that are full of butter or cream, such as mashed potatoes.

    Approx. calorie savings: 175

  • Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing

    To lighten up stuffing and get in more healthy carbs, replace half the bread cubes with wild rice. Using chicken or vegetable broth is also a good way to add flavor while lowering the amount of butter needed.

    Approx. calorie savings: 100

  • Healthy Pie Recipe

    If you love to end a holiday meal with pie, opt for pumpkin over pecan. You’ll enjoy the tastes of the season with far fewer calories.

    Approx. calorie savings: 250

  • Total calorie savings? 1,050

Other Holiday Calorie Saving Tips

Here are some other tips for eating more mindfully, maintaining portion control and eating fewer calories at holiday meals:

  • Don’t arrive hungry. You may think it’s best to eat nothing or very little all day so you can save up for the big feast. But if you arrive famished, you’re less likely to make good food choices. Eat a filling breakfast or high-protein snack before you arrive.
  • Sample the spread. Before you take a serving of anything that passes you by, survey what the offerings are and decide which indulgences you truly have to have. Skip foods you can eat anytime and take small portions of the ones you really want. Then savor them slowly.
  • Sit strategically. Can’t help yourself when the cheese, nuts or cake are nearby? Find a place to sit or stand that’s not within arm’s reach. That way, you’ll have to make a conscious decision to get up if you want to indulge.
  • Bring a dish. Offer to bring a dish or two and make it something healthy. This way you’ll know just where to go when you need to fill your plate with something nourishing and less calorie-dense. Be sure to check out our delicious low calorie holiday recipes below!
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