A Simple Way to Help Maintain Weight this Holiday Season

The holiday season is in full swing, which not only means countless parties but it may also mean friends, family members and co-workers lining up to tempt you with sweet treats and their best baked goods. Just try saying no to a brownie! Typically, holiday dining can include lots of sugary delights and delicious but dangerous trans-fat filled foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumes 156 pounds of sugar every year. A large portion of that sugar is consumed during the holiday season.

Of all the foods we eat, refined sugar is considered to be one of the most harmful, causing serious health risks such as inflammation and infection, compromising the immune system and raising insulin levels. When it comes to fat consumption, trans-fat is considered by some doctors to be the worst type of fat. Unlike other fats, trans-fat both raises your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lowers your "good" (HDL) cholesterol.

Thankfully, there is a simple and effective way to monitor refined sugar and trans-fat intake during the most tempting time of the year. Snack-enthusiast and Simple Squares’ founder, Kimberly Crupi Dobbins, has created a delicious and healthy alternative to holiday treats, helping us resist tempting festive foods. Simple Squares are whole food snack bars made from just five ingredients: nuts, honey, vanilla, and hints of sea salt and herbs - that's it.  Always free of wheat, gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugars, they are great for people with dietary restrictions. The snack bars are also organic, kosher and raw.

The natural sweetness of honey and vanilla are a healthy substitute to sugary pumpkin pies and frosted gingerbread men. Each bar contains hunger-satisfying nuts, which provide healthy fats to your diet while keeping you feeling fuller, longer. In fact, a study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, which followed more than 120,000 health professionals, found that daily servings of yogurt, nuts and fruit have the greatest capacity to help people lose weight, making Simple Squares an ideal snack. And, nuts give your body the essential fatty acids it needs, while also giving a boost in energy, so you can keep up the pace during this demanding time of year.  

Simple Squares are the perfect snack to have handy during festivities to control hunger and ward off sweet treats. Toss one of the four satisfying flavors in your bag to curb hunger while during holiday shopping excursions. Or, try one Simple Squares bar before any holiday feast to prevent over-indulging.

Simple Squares are available in several delicious holiday-inspired flavors such as cinnamon-clove, rosemary, and sage. Or try coconut for a taste of the islands! Purchase them at simplesquares.com, Amazon or hundreds of retail outlets throughout the U.S. They make a thoughtful holiday gift.