Association for Dressings & Sauces encourages everyone to embrace the Holidays the Healthy Way

Newswise — “Deck the halls the healthy way and savor the delicious flavors of the season,” says The Association for Dressings & Sauces (ADS). The Atlanta-based trade association of salad dressing, mayonnaise, sauce and other condiment manufacturers and suppliers to the industry advises everyone to welcome the culinary delights of the Holidays instead of fretting over their aftermath.

The holiday season brings an abundance of delicious cuisine and it’s everywhere you turn – home, the office, and friendly gatherings. Well, there’s no need to fear. There are plenty of ways to incorporate the treats of the season into a healthful eating regimen. The secret is to be sensible and flexible with food choices and watch portion sizes. But why only apply these guidelines during the Holidays? Make them a standard part of your healthy eating plan for life.

Strive for 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day this season. With the variety of delicious fruits and vegetables available this season, getting your 5-9 should be a snap and salad dressings, dips and sauces add pizzazz!

Opt for guilt-free veggies like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, spinach and cranberries. Fall’s orange vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots; for example, are excellent sources of beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant and may protect against cancer. And, remember…fruits and vegetables are also good sources of fiber, folic acid and potassium.

Try the following tips this Holiday Season:

Substitute chopped vegetables for some of the bread in your stuffing recipe.

Offer vegetables in addition to traditional side dishes such as stuffing or mashed potatoes at your holiday meals.

Bowls of fresh fruit are a festive and sweet substitute for candy or chocolates. Serve with one of the many fruit dips available at your local grocery store.

For a flavorful turkey, baste with one of the many tangy or smoky sauces available on your grocery store shelves.

Take that leftover turkey and make a delicious turkey salad. Add a few pieces of turkey to a generous portion of mixed greens, cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, or any other vegetables you like. Sprinkle with dried cranberries or nuts for that authentic holiday taste. Top it off with your favorite salad dressing.

The Association for Dressings & Sauces is an international trade association representing the manufacturers of salad dressings and condiment sauces and the suppliers to the industry. Visit us on the web at www.dressings-sauces.org to learn more about the nutritional benefits of salads and salad dressings, and to obtain tasty recipes as well as a copy of the brochure, “The Good News About Salad Dressings and Sauces.”