Healthy holiday tips: It’s more than the foods we eat

The “most wonderful time of the year” often comes with the most wonderful foods to eat.

One of my favourite foods to eat during the holidays is my mother’s pepperpot. It’s a traditional beef stew cooked with spices like cinnamon, thyme and hot pepper. My grandmother taught my mother how to make this dish. This year, I’m looking forward to learning how to make it too.

Do you have a favourite holiday recipe or dish that was shared with you from a relative, friend, or acquaintance?

Healthy eating is more than the foods we eat

Food has an incredible way of bringing people together. Through food, we are able to share culture, traditions, stories, and knowledge with loved ones and across generations. The holiday season is a great time to share traditions with your growing family and with others!

Here are 3 ways that we can enjoy and share food during the holidays:

1. Plan a meal together: invite a friend, neighbour, or family member to share a meal with you. It can help you get to know them more, try new foods, and spend some quality time together.
2. Involve your little ones: your children can learn a lot from you and others by doing small, age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen, by watching how food is prepared, and by learning about cultural or traditional foods.
3. Volunteer your time: look for opportunities in your community to share with others. Local meal programs, food banks and soup kitchens could always use an extra pair of hands during the holiday season. The feeling of connection with your community can benefit you too! How do people in your community celebrate their holidays?

Feel free to comment below and share a recipe that your family loves to make together.

Wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable holiday season!