How to Make Your Holiday Meals Acne-Friendly

With so many food-centric holidays happening this time of year, enjoying a marvelous meal with friends and loved ones isn’t hard to come by. During the holidays, sources of temptation and opportunities to indulge are plentiful. For those with acne, certain foods might trigger breakouts. With a little knowledge and creativity, you can make any holiday meal work in your favor by including foods that benefit the appearance of your skin and contribute to your goal of being acne-free!

We have compiled an acne-friendly holiday menu that is sure to delight your tastebuds, as well as your complexion!

Kale. Rich in vitamins A, C and K, which can heal skin and actually reverse skin damage, kale works as an anti-inflammatory superfood to contribute to a clear complexion. You can easily create a crispy kale, lemon and garlic salad as a healthy snack!

Kale, Lemon and Garlic salad (Serves 2)

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 bunch organic kale (washed and sliced into 1/2 inch ribbons)
• juice from 1 lemon
• 4 tbsp olive oil

Heat a small saute pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Drizzle over chopped kale and toss with lemon juice.

Turkey. This lean, white meat is high in selenium, which is great for the skin! Protecting the skin from sun damage, the mighty mineral also works to reduce inflammation and increase antioxidant levels, which can help prevent blocked pores.

Wild-caught salmon. High in mood-elevating Omega-3, salmon can keep stress levels low and breakouts at bay. Containing healthy fats and rich proteins to build collagen, wild-caught salmon is a healthy, tasty treat that is a cinch to whip up in the kitchen. For a main course, baked salmon with dill not only tastes great, but also treats your skin to a high dose of vitamins and minerals. A splash of lemon adds to the fun with L-ascorbic acid, often used to fight acne with it’s natural astringent properties.

Salmon with Lemon and Dill recipe (Serves 4)

• 4-6 ounce salmon fillets, with skin
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp dried dill weed

Preheat oven to 425F and prepare a sheet pan with tin foil. Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Mix extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and dill together in a small bowl. Using clean hands, generously rub mixture on fillets, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place skin side down and bake for 10-15 minutes (or 4-6 minutes per 1/2 inch thickness) until desired doneness is reached or flakes easily with a fork.

Carrots. Not often viewed as a main course, vitamin A-rich carrots can make for a hearty vegetarian main course option when paired with cashews and other nuts, a great source of Omega-3! This exotic dish can also be served as a side dish.

Nutty Carrot Roast (Serves 4)

• 3 large carrots, grated
• 1 medium leek, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped mixed nuts (cashews, walnuts and pine nuts are recommended)
• 1 16 ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 eggs, beaten
• sprig of thyme, rosemary, or sage
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375F. Heat olive oil and herb sprig in saute pan over medium heat. Add carrot, leek and garlic and saute until fragrant (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat. Remove herb sprig from mixture and add nuts, beans, eggs, salt and pepper, mixing to combine. Transfer to a foil-lined loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.

You can serve these main dish proteins with a number of sides, including these skin-healthy veggies. Try adding a touch of fresh garlic while cooking these fresh veggies. In addition to adding an extra punch of flavor, garlic can fight acne with its antibacterial and antiseptic properties!

Squash. Squash is incredibly high in beta carotene, which is partly responsible for regulating the production of sebum, and keeping inflammation to a minimum.

Brussel Sprouts. This cruciferous vegetable is high in vitamin C, an antioxidant, promoting collagen production. It is also high in vitamin K, which helps to prevent acne and heal acne scars.

Broccoli. Also high in vitamin C, this protein-rich leafy green is a smart, healthy choice for skin you can feel good about.

Apples. Apples offer a hydrating burst of vitamin C, and can satisfy a sweet tooth as well. You can whip up a simple, healthy dessert using apples, antibacterial honey, and Omega-3-rich walnuts to complete your complexion-friendly meal.

Walnut-Stuffed Apples in Honey (Serves 4)

• 4 large Gala apples
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup walnuts, chopped
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ½ cup walnuts
• ¼ cup raisins
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup organic honey

Preheat oven to 375F. Slice off tops of apples and remove core and seeds. Mix room temperature butter, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a small bowl until smooth. Add walnuts and raisins. Arrange apples in a small baking dish and fill the apples with equal portions of mixture and drizzle honey over the top. Pour orange juice around the apples in the dish. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until soft.

Making healthy eating choices to benefit your skin can be easy with a little insight and time for planning. We all deserve to have our “cheat days” every now and then, which is why it is so important to have a plan that is always working from within, regardless of what you have on your plate. AcnEase^® works from within the body to help prevent the sebaceous glands from overproducing sebum, an oily substance that can clog pores in excessive amounts. Using all-natural, herbal ingredients, AcnEase^® is gentle on the skin and body, and is safe for use among people of all ages, with no side effects! Treat yourself and your skin to a healthy dose of healing from within with AcnEase^® this holiday season!

We want to hear from you! What are some of your favorite holiday foods? Have any acne-friendly recipes to share? Tell us in the comments below!