Five low-calorie snacks to enjoy on New Year’s Eve for a healthy celebration

The end of the year is all about family time, delicious cuisine, and trips. With the excitement of a new year ahead of us, there’s always a temptation to overindulge in high-calorie treats. The lengthy period of increased intake of sugar, fat, and junk food over the holiday season, which lasts for many months, may exacerbate symptoms of chronic conditions and have an adverse effect on general health. However, you may reduce calories and prevent health problems by making little changes to the components in your seasonal treats. Incorporating fruits, nuts, dates, and millet into your cuisine not only provides your body with essential nutrients but also prevents you from gaining excess weight.

Aside from eating the correct foods, one should also remember the fundamentals of good health, which include self-care, regular exercise, enough sleep, and mindfulness practices.

Eshanka Wahi, the creator of Eat Clean with Eshanka and a culinary nutritionist and holistic wellness coach, offers guilt-free and nutritious low-calorie snack alternatives for us to enjoy on New Year’s Eve as we welcome a new year.

1. Nut balls and dates
For those who have a sweet appetite, a mixture of dates, almonds, and a little bit of natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit is a fantastic and guilt-free choice. Without the additional sugars that add unnecessary calories, these bite-sized treats are bursting with festive flavor and vitality.

2. Roasted chickpeas with spices
Add roasted chickpeas to your Christmas munching to liven things up. For an added kick, you may also include some festive spices, such as cumin, cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne, to your delicious snack. When they are perfectly roasted, they become a crispy, filling, low-calorie, high-protein, and high-fiber snack.

3. A parfait of Greek yogurt
Make a Greek yogurt parfait to satisfy your sweet needs and turn your desires into a nutritious feast. For a tasty treat, arrange low-fat Greek yogurt with fresh berries, honey, and granola on top. This combo offers a healthy dose of antioxidants, probiotics, and protein, so you can indulge your sweet taste without feeling guilty.

4. Crudités of vegetables with hummus
Serve a vibrant dish of raw vegetables with homemade hummus to up your snack game. It is advisable to include a variety of vibrant vegetables such as bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots. The protein-rich hummus and fiber-rich vegetables combine to provide a filling, low-calorie choice for holiday snacking.

5. Apple crisps baked in the oven
Turn apples into crispy chips and enjoy their inherent sweetness. I would finely slice the apples, sprinkle with a little cinnamon, then bake till they are golden brown. Without the added calories of typical holiday snacks, these baked apple chips provide a delightful crunch and a pop of seasonal flavor.

You may fulfill your appetites and improve your general health by including these healthy alternatives in your holiday feast. Thus, be sure to include all these nutritious items on your shopping list before the New Year’s Eve festivities start to ensure a happy and healthy gathering.