12 Red And Green Superfoods To Enjoy This Christmas

It's a good thing our food choices don't determine whether we land on Santa's "nice" list or get relegated to the "naughty" one. Because between the gingerbread and the candy canes and the sugar cookies, we're guilty of any number of unhealthy eating "sins" this year.

Try as we might to be satisfied with our kale salads, it seems temptation lies around every corner this time of year. We've armed ourselves with healthy holiday eating tips, like making our Christmas cookies with applesauce instead of butter, but we can't bring ourselves to turn down every treat. (We're no Grinch, okay?!)

Luckily, some of the healthiest foods of all time happen to come in Poinsettia Red and Pine Tree Green. Here are 12 of our favorites for a healthy -- and festive! -- Christmas.

• Apples

  <strong>Why we love them: </strong>The fall staple -- available in both red <em>and</em> green! -- is rich in fiber and vitamin C. Apples have been linked to lower cholesterol, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/health-benefits-apples_n_1855590.html#slide=1470303">better lung function</a> and even <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/health-benefits-apples_n_1855590.html#slide=1470204">protection against cancer</a>, among <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/health-benefits-apples_n_1855590.html">other benefits</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Try a festive baked apple, Kimberly Altman, R.D., of Pritikin Longevity Center, suggested to HuffPost in September. Just <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/september-superfoods_n_1828853.html#slide=1426696">pop the apples in the oven with a little cinnamon and apple juice concentrate</a>.

• Avocados

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> This creamy fruit is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1162163">rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats</a> as well as potassium, lutein and vitamins C and E. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Try it as a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-b-clegg/foods-to-boost-mental-health_b_969085.html#s368409&title=Avocado">topper for soup</a> or whip up this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/roasted-beet-and-avocado-_n_1058644.html">festive red-and-green salad</a>.

• Bell Peppers

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> The red guys have <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/vitamin-c-foods_n_1457397.html#slide=911076">more vitamin C than an orange</a> -- and the green variety isn't far behind. They're also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1162152">relatively low in sugar</a>, compared to other sources of the immunity-boosting nutrient. Bell peppers are rich in fiber and antioxidants <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Try them raw in a salad or <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-kumin/how-to-roast-peppers_b_1906110.html">roasted in a side dish</a>. They're also perfect to serve with hummus or other dips. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/bell-pepper-recipes_n_1672039.html#slide=1222926">Stuffed peppers</a> make a tasty and filling vegetarian entr?e.

• Broccoli

  <strong>Why we love it:</strong> This famed superfood <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/juliewilcox/2012/07/01/health-benefits-of-broccoli/">fights inflammation</a>, is high in fiber and has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/vitamin-c-foods_n_1457397.html#slide=911190">more vitamin C than an orange</a>. Recent research suggests that a specific compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous veggies may be able to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/sulforaphane-leukemia-broccoli-cruciferous-vegetables_n_2286333.html">kill cancer cells</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> It makes for a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/broccoli-recipes_n_1514877.html#s971594&title=Broccoli_With_Caramelized">tasty cooked side dish</a> with onions and pine nuts. Or try it <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/broccoli-recipes_n_1514877.html#s971596&title=Creamy_Broccoli_Soup">pureed into a warm soup</a>.

• Cherries

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> These low-calorie fruits are loaded with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1161152">vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and antioxidants</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> While they're fresh in the summer, cherries are delicious in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/the-best-cherries-for-eating-vs-baking_n_1660202.html">holiday-season baked goods</a> like pies and <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/christmas-cherry-cake-2/">cakes</a>. Or get creative with a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/the-best-cherries-for-eating-vs-baking_n_1660202.html#s1203516&title=Cherry_Balsamic_Sauce">cherry sauce for a meat dish</a>.

• Kale

  <strong>Why we love it:</strong> Our pick for the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/best-worst-salad-greens-health_n_1962626.html#slide=1637671">healthiest salad green</a>, kale is a good source of vitamin A and potassium. A hearty serving of the leafy green packs even <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/calcium-food-sources_n_1451010.html">more calcium than a glass of milk</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Versatile kale is tasty raw in salad, but also works well cooked <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/kale-recipes_n_1878661.html#slide=1513213">in soups</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/kale-recipes_n_1878661.html#slide=1513222">sauteed in a side dish</a> and even <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/kale-recipes_n_1878661.html#slide=1513212">baked into chips</a>!

• Kiwis

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> The antioxidant lutein, found in abundance in kiwis, has been shown to protect eyesight. These fruits are also high in vitamins C (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/vitamin-c-foods_n_1457397.html#slide=911277">more than an orange!</a>) and E and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1840547.html#slide=1446591">potassium</a>. They may also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/kiwis-blood-pressure-apples_n_1097364.html">lower blood pressure</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Add them to a brightly-colored fruit salad for a healthy option for dessert.

• Pomegranates

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> The antioxidants in the seeds of this fruit have been found to protect the heart. They're also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1161983">rich in fiber and vitamins C and K</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Instead of crouton or dried cranberries, top your Christmas salad with a handful of the seeds -- or add a dash of pomegranate juice to a holiday cocktail.

• Red Wine

  <strong>Why we love it:</strong> As long as you don't overdo it, which can cause health problems, a little red wine along with your holiday meal can do wonders. Red wine (and the grapes it's made from) contains a compound called resveratrol, which acts as an antioxidant and seems to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1162034">fight inflammation and blood clots</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> In moderation. That typically means up to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm/#moderateDrinking">one drink a day for women and two for men</a>.

• Spinach

  <strong>Why we love it:</strong> A close runner-up to kale in our list of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/best-worst-salad-greens-health_n_1962626.html#slide=1637676">healthiest salad greens</a>, spinach is high in vitamin A, rich in potassium and loaded with iron. A half-cup of the raw leaves <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/iron-in-foods-the-best-di_n_1316332.html#slide=747045">contains 3.2 milligrams of the nutrient</a>, which helps to carry oxygen around the body. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> You'll probably encounter a spinach dip somewhere among your holiday festivities, but beware that traditional versions can be loaded with fat. If you're making your own, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/holiday-foods_n_1158703.html">try swapping cheese or mayo for Greek yogurt</a>. You'll get more of the healthy benefits in a festive salad like this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/jamies-cranberry-spinach-salad/">cranberry and spinach mix</a>, or use it to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/spinach-dinner-recipes_n_1408224.html#slide=1676352">stuff those bell peppers</a>!

• Strawberries

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> Another low-calorie option, strawberries are rich in vitamin C, with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1162263">more than an orange in one serving</a>. They've also been linked to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/cognitive-impairment-study-berries_n_1453557.html">slower cognitive decline in older adults</a>. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> Toss them into that fruit salad along with the kiwis! Or get fancy and dip them in a little melted dark chocolate. (Chocolate and berries is a powerful pairing; when eaten together their individual health benefits are amplified, thanks to a concept known as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/food-synergy-food-pairings_n_1874641.html#slide=1504835">food synergy</a>.)

• Tomatoes

  <strong>Why we love them:</strong> Tomatoes are well-known for containing a nutrient called <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/healthy-food-healthiest-list_n_1636409.html#slide=1162287">lycopene</a>, which has been shown to help protect against prostate, lung and stomach cancers. <strong>How to enjoy this Christmas:</strong> To reap all the benefits, make sure tomatoes are served with a little healthy fat, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/food-synergy-food-pairings_n_1874641.html">like avocado or olive oil in a salad</a>. Cooking tomatoes also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/neapolitan-meatballs_n_1061714.html">helps the body absorb more lycopene</a> -- try them in a seasonal <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/neapolitan-meatballs_n_1061714.html">pasta dish</a>.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/red-green-superfoods-christmas_n_2324151.html

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