Food
Healthy Southern holiday traditions

It's sad, but true: Usually we associate the holidays with extra calories, especially Southern dishes loaded with butter, cream, sugar or fat. However, that's not universally true. Keep reading for some tasty seasonal traditions that are guilt-free — and then try adding them to your holiday traditions this year.

Pass the Collards
Traditions worth keeping
1
Oysters
The custom of eating oyster stew on Christmas Eve can be traced back to different cultures — from Irish to Native American traditions. Oysters are low in calories and provide a nice dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
2
Black-eyed Peas & Collards
Legend has it that consuming black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good fortune — and collard greens bring prosperity. The peas are loaded with fiber, and the greens are rich in vitamin K and vitamin A.
3
Pecans
Pecan orchards are plentiful in the South, and growers harvest the favored nut October through December. They're packed with vitamins and minerals including magnesium, and also provide a little extra protein and healthy fat to your diet.
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