The Leaf | Healthy Weight Loss Blog

The celebration season brings us so many treats that staying on track with a healthy eating plan can be challenging. Among the hardest temptations to resist are the cool cocktails and hot drinks that make our spirits bright, but often are loaded with excess calories and sugar. Now here’s a little gift you can give yourself. These 17 fun and flavorful beverages let you enjoy the tastes of the season and still shed excess pounds. They include traditional favorites made with healthy ingredients and fresh new options that you and your guests are sure to love. While they’re perfect for parties and other special events, you can enjoy them whenever you want to make your day a little more festive. Try these healthy holiday drink recipes this season!: 1. Earl Grey Tea Latte You don’t have to like coffee to enjoy the frothy fun of a latte. You can start instead with a base of Earl Grey tea, the variety that has a light, citrusy taste to go with its full-flavored black tea leaves. Mixing in

The holidays are upon us, which means loved ones are probably starting to ask what’s on your gift wish list. Whether you’re a full-on foodie or you’d just like some help in the kitchen, consider asking for one of these 11 healthy holiday gift ideas. They’re perfect for putting together your Nutrisystem flex meals! Shopping for friends and family? These creative ideas are ideal for all of the home cooks in your life. Here are 11 healthy gift ideas that are perfect for your healthy holiday wish list or any foodie in your life!: 1. Measuring Cups If you don’t own a good set of measuring cups, you should add them to your healthy holiday wish list this year—especially since incorrectly estimating portion sizes is a quick way to sabotage your slim-down. Already own a set? Consider adding a second set to your list. That way you can leave them in your desk drawer at work and beat portion distortion wherever you are. Just make sure you ask for dishwasher-safe options so cleaning them is a

Is your fridge filled with Thanksgiving leftovers? Give them new life with these seven simple, smart and satisfying recipes! From a savory soup to the perfect panini, these delicious ideas are the perfect way to use up the rest of your holiday feast. Plus, these Thanksgiving leftover recipes fit perfectly into your Nutrisystem weight loss plan ! Here are seven healthy and creative Thanksgiving leftover recipes: 1. Thanksgiving Leftover Soup > Thanksgiving leftover soup is the perfect way to use up the rest of that holiday feast! This delicious soup recipe can be prepared on the stove top or in your Instant Pot. It features the Thanksgiving basics: Leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots and chicken broth. We also add in some onions, fresh herbs and spices for extra festive flavor. 2. Cranberry Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potato > If you have any extra baked sweet potatoes in your fridge, you have to try this Thanksgiving leftover recipe! They are the perfect

You don’t have to forgo your traditional Thanksgiving champagne cocktail, eggnog, holiday party punch or warm mulled wine before a roaring fire just because you’re dieting. While the empty calories in alcohol can be problematic when you’re trying to lose weight, it’s actually easy to fit the occasional drink into a healthy lifestyle plan. You just need to be smart about it. Choosing Cocktails Low in Calories and Sugar When selecting your Thanksgiving cocktails, choose the options with the fewest calories and the least amount of sugar. A glass of dry white or red wine, such as Chardonnay or Shiraz, fit the bill, as does light beer. A serving of many hard apple ciders, though they’re fairly high in sugar thanks to their fruit base, are under 150 calories and can be made even lighter when turned into a spritzer with some calorie-free seltzer (a Nutrisystem Free Food). Among the hard liquors, gin, rum, tequila, Scotch, Bourbon and vodka are all only about 100 calories per 1.5 ounce ser

Handling the temptations of Thanksgiving? No sweat. You got this. You have your plan and your recipes—nothing is going to send you off the rails this season. Except for one thing. You’re not in charge of the Thanksgiving meal this year. You’re going to someone else’s feast, someone who is probably not going to be giving a thought to the fat, sugar and calorie content of the meal except to think “more is better.” On the plus side, you won’t be nibbling and tasting while you’re cooking. That may save you some sneaky calories. But there’s no getting around it: Thanksgiving dinner is almost always a calorie bomb. Without drinks and dessert, the average Thanksgiving meal is about 3,000 calories, according to the Calorie Control Council . That’s about 500 calories shy of what you have to consume to gain a pound. So how are you going to lose weight when just one meal of the day seems designed to go directly to your thighs? Have another plan. This one will involve Nutrisystem’s Flex meal