Santa Barbara restaurant owner serves up tips to stay healthy during the holidays

The holidays can be stressful, especially when it comes to eating healthy.

However, the owner of The Honey B Kitchen in Santa Barbara has some tips to help you stay on track.

Katie Belanger’s restaurant is plant-based and 90% vegan. She offers organic eggs and some cheeses.

Belanger says you can have some fun during the holidays, while staying healthy.

“Everything in moderation is great because if you try to restrict yourself too much, you’ll probably fall down the rabbit hole,” she said.

At family gatherings and holiday parties, Belanger recommends filling up on healthier foods first.

“Focus on how you fill your plate and your portions and I always like to put the salad on my plate first, because salads are fluffy and will take up more of your plate,” Belanger said.

It’s also a good idea not to sit around after a big meal.

“Around the holidays, you like to graze around the table and not move,” she said. “So it’s good to get outside and get moving. When you are full you need to recognize in your body that you are actually full.”

Belanger said you can make holiday foods healthier by substituting nut cheeses for real cheese and putting veggies in appetizers.

Belanger has a vegetarian cookbook called “The Honey B Be You! Cookbook.” She is also working on a vegan cookbook.

To learn more about The Honey B Kitchen, click here.