Foods To Enjoy Guilt-Free Slideshow

Red Wine

You might be surprised that red wine can be beneficial to your health,  since the last time you had some, you tripped and bruised your shin on the front steps of your house — but that's because you drank too much. In moderation, red wine can help promote heart health. Also, an antioxidant in red wine, resveratrol, may reduce the likelihood of blood clotting and inflammation which can lead to heart disease, and also has been (very tentatively) linked to a reduced risk of diabetes and obesity.

Make lamb ragu with a red wine braise.

Olive Oil

It's true that olive oil is high in fat, but those fats are mostly monounsaturated fats that may improve your cholesterol and normalize blood clotting, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease.

Make olive oil cake.

Grapes

Super-sweet grapes can seem like an indulgent snack, but fresh grapes, which are a standby of holiday snack tables, are very nutritious. Rich in resveratrol, catechins, and minerals, grapes pack a powerful nutritional punch. They are also very low in calories — one cup has just more than 100 calories. Note that conventional imported grapes can have traces of more than 30 pesticides, so, for optimal health benefits, stick with organic.

Make grape salsa.

Cabbage

Many think that the healthiest vegetables are the most colorful, and that's usually true, except where Brassica vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage are concerned. Cabbage is actually packed with nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, and E. And, this low-calorie food also has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. So go ahead, have some more slaw — cabbage is great for you!

Make cabbage and pear slaw.

Popcorn

It's not that popcorn is especially good for you, but as far as snack foods go, popcorn is a pretty good one. With only 31 calories in a cup of popcorn, it's easy to fill up without packing on the pounds. Just skip the butter.

Make homemade popcorn.

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