Healthier Food Choices this Christmas with Clara Ole

Christmas is fast approaching and while it may be the season of overindulgence, everyone wants to look their best and no one, I repeat, no one wants to feel deprived. The choice we make is what really defines our diets. Even if you canned a healthy cereal, you may still be grabbing  fat-laden, sugary chocolate bar, muffin or a venti-sized, caffeine-infused latte for your sweet morning fix. And that, my friend, is an endless battle against an all out belly blowout!

It has always been a challenge for moms like me when it comes to preparing healthy meals for everyone—breakfast, lunch, merienda up until dinner. Whipping up something good to chow on for the loved one is no easy task and for those always pressed for time, a little help does so many wonders.

Luckily, I found a fast, simple and flavorful solution when creating dishes. Clara Olé is a pasta sauce brand known for its wide range of versatile pasta sauces. Not only that, the brand is also credited for having a diversified yet innovative product concepts and other ready-to-use products to help aid homemakers whip up that delectably perfect, healthy and savory dish for the whole family.

So this Christmas, ensure you're looking and feeling your best through the holiday season with these tips and healthier food choices with Clara Olé:

1. Don't skip breakfast. A green 'n savory, lightly sweet breakfast to serve up.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, people! This will give you a slow release of energy, keeping your spirits up during opening of gifts and Christmas dinner preps. So don't skip it! Whip up that batter for some scrumptious pancakes and team it up with Clara Olé Pancake Syrups. Take your pick: Original, Maple, Cinnamon or Truly Fruity for those who want to tickle their taste buds; for those watching blood glucose levels, worry not with the sugar-free version of the Clara Olé Maple Syrup. Chocoholics are also treated with two chocolate syrups they can enjoy to the hilt—the classic Choco and Choco-Nut Syrup.

For my daily breakfast meal, I always start off with a light and refreshing salad comprising of some fresh romaine lettuce, cucumbers, mango bits drizzled with Clara Ole Asian dressing and topped with croutons and cheese, then I warm up my belly with a glass of warm water with lemon.

Also, I try my best to cut down on my rice intake as much as I can and replace it with something healthy like salad or cauli-rice(steamed cauliflower smashed into bits).  And believe it or not, I just lost 14 lbs. in just 3 weeks! :) If you're a rice (or extra-rice) person, try to slash your rice consumption by half.

Clara Olé Dips n’ Dressings such as Thousand Island, Caesar, Honey Mustard, Ranch and Asian are perfect for those fresh and crunchy greens as part of your daily healthy food fare. My fave salad dressings are Clara Olé  Caesar and Asian. Caesar has a classic tangy treat. Asian dressing, on the other hand, gives a sweet bite and finishes off with a pop of sesame explosion in your mouth! Amp up your salads even further with their Vinaigrettes like Orange, Sesame, Pesto, Parmesan and Mango. So healthy so you can enjoy them to your heart’s content.

If you're not a salad person, you can have a jam on toast for brekky! Spice up your breads’ flavor with the appetizing range of quality Jams and Jellies from Clara Olé that are perfect for any and all bread recipes.

2. Prepare and cook your own food.

Cooking could either be simple or complex. Simple like 1.2.3 or complex, much like algebra and the debate about whether soccer is better than football.  But hey, Clara Ole makes everything so simple and so delicious. I love how Clara Olé mouth-watering marinades dramatically improve the flavor of bland veggies and meat.

3. Limit the salt and use marinades to flavour food.

If it’s lunch, dinner or any-time-of-the-day-meals at home or the office, enjoy the best cuts of chicken, pork or beef by marinating them using . For a classic taste of grilled meat, check out Clara Olé Original Barbeque Marinade to satisfy that craving. Same goes for Honey Mustard, Hickory and Spicy flavors that will surely play with your senses as soon as it hits your palate. Korean food lovers can also rejoice with Clara Olé Korean Barbeque Marinade, or bring back your glorious childhood memories with the Clara Olé line of flavorful Tapa and Tocino marinades, while Inasal is perfect for that chicken char-grilled goodness.

4. Know when enough is enough. Choose to be full, not stuffed.

I love eating pasta and sometimes, I overeat so keeping things in moderation is the key. You can use a smaller plate or drink a glass of water before a meal to fill you up.

For my pasta dish, I always use Clara Olé classic pasta sauces. You can either go with Italian Style, Sweet Style, Three-Cheese, or Filipino Style to liven up any meal but my fave is the triple Cheese. Or, for a more sophisticated taste around the table, Clara Olé Chunky Tomato with Three-Cheese, Chunky Tomato with Basil, Cheesy Pesto, Kung Pao and Mushroom can make every pasta dish even more sensational.

Triple Treat! Triple meat pasta with Clara Ole Triple Cheese sauce

5. Indulge once in a while. Cheat day, that is. :)

I finish off the meal with something sweet and satisfying like low fat yogurt or mango crepe drizzled with Clara Ole Choco-Nut Syrup on top. Yum!

Last but not the least, make healthier food choices! Try Clara Ole because everything goes perfectly with these products.

Visit www.claraole.com for more deets and like Clara Olé on Facebook here or follow them on Instagram @claraoleph