A big trend this Christmas season is to serve food that’s gluten-free. What’s the benefit of considering this? Research reveals that it helps to lower cholesterol while increasing your energy

levels at the same time. Another perk is helps to promote digestive health, and that can ultimately help you to lose weight. If you’ve never made anything that’s gluten-free before,

click here for some recipes. Maybe pair a dish up with some lamb or duck. Both are getting more attention than turkey or ham this year.

Another huge trend this holiday season? Fermented foods. It might sound odd, but fermented foods are really healthy for you. It’s kind of a long story, but what makes a

food qualify as being fermented is that it went through a process that creates what’s known as lactic acid. As a result, food lasts longer and enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty

acids and probiotics are more concentrated in the food. That ultimately means healthy digestion for you. Foods that fall into the fermented category include cabbage, pickles, miso (a fermented

paste), sauerkraut, yogurt and Kombucha. What’s that? It’s an effervescent tea. Click here to read more about it.

Deli sandwiches are also making an appearance at Christmas dinner tables. It might be because according to Martha Stewart, going all out to decorate children’s Christmas tables is also all

the rage. It’s not about making peanut butter and jelly or tuna fish. Aim much higher. Think “gourmet” or “masterpiece” as you’re putting these sandwiches together. Click here

for some recipes and tips.

Casseroles are comfort food. It makes sense that when the weather outside is frightful that some dishes as delightful sweet potato casserole, chicken and dumplings, lasagna, zucchini pizza and even

spinach and cheese casserole would be making some special appearances. Don’t let this Christmas go by without making at least one (click here for over 40 delicious recipes).

Mushrooms are also around this Christmas. Mushrooms contain a good amount of Vitamin D, they help to strengthen your immune system, they fight off free radicals in the body, they’re

a good source of protein and they contain Vitamin B which speeds up your metabolism. All wonderful reasons to serve them up. There are so many ways to prepare them.

One of our favorite is stuffed portabella mushrooms. Click here for a recipe.

What’s a mash-up dessert? It’s when you take two desserts that were already pretty tasty on their own and then you mix them up together. Some that come to mind

are cookie dough and cupcakes, cheesecake and brownies, croissants and donuts, pie and cake and meringue and cupcakes. Does that have your mouth watering already? Click here for

over 20 different ways to mash-up your own favorite desserts.

Here are some health risks about milk that you might not know. Research shows that it is linked to an increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer; that people who

consume it increase their chances of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; an ingredient in it called D-galactose is a pro-inflammatory and it can increase the signs of aging. Milk is even

linked to acne breakouts. All of this is enough of a reason to at least consider serving up some dairy-free drinks. Click here for some of our favorite

warm ones.

Then there’s Switchel. What’s that? It’s actually a fermented drink that is good for gut health (it also helps to raise your electrolyte levels and reduce inflammation). The ingredients you

need for Switchel include apple cider vinegar, real maple syrup, some fresh grated ginger and seltzer water. That’s it and you’ll be trending with some of the healthiest chefs in

town. Click here for a Switchel recipe and enjoy all of that good holiday eating (and drinking)!