WV Farm Bureau Magazine December 2015 | Page 26

FAMILY FEATURES T THE DISH ON LOW-CARB EATING If sticking to a low-carb diet seems like a lofty goal, you may find it helpful to focus on all the foods you can eat with confidence while watching your carbs:  High-fiber vegetables  Protein (fish/seafood, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, plant-based)  Healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, butter)  Dairy (cheese, Greek yogurt)  Low-glycemic fruits (berries, cherries, melon) 26 West Virginia Farm Bureau News he hustle and bustle of the holiday season – from office parties to family gatherings – often leads to over-indulging and deviating from a healthy lifestyle; luckily, it’s still possible to enjoy many of your favorite holiday dishes while reducing carb and sugar intake. And the numbers don’t lie – numerous studies show that low-carb eating can be a healthy lifestyle option for people who want to lose or maintain their weight. When you control your carbohydrate intake, you start burning stored fat as your fuel source instead of carbohydrates. Low-carb eating results in more effective weight loss and better health markers, such as a decrease in your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Plus, a lowcarb lifestyle, such as Atkins, can be customized to your individual needs to help you lose weight and keep it off. In fact, with the wide variety of foods to choose from in a low-carb lifestyle, it’s easy to find plenty of the festive foods and recipes you like so you can skip the stress this holiday season and simply focus on celebrating. These recipes – favorites of actress Alyssa Milano, who started her own journey on the Atkins program – show how easy it is to make and enjoy low-carb dishes packed with flavor. Find more low-carb recipes to share this holiday season at atkins.com.