Holiday superfoods

Thanksgiving may not be the time you want to think about being healthy. But it's actually pretty easy to incorporate some foods that are not only tasty, but good for you as well; making your thanksgiving meal a super-feast.

"It's a whole other philosophy. It's a new direction," said dietician David Grotto. "Simply adding in foods, like the avocado, actually has heart health benefits or peppers may actually fight cancer."

Grotto said more people are moving towards cooking foods that not only have great flavor, but give your body a boost. He also suggested trying to add some of these other foods to your holiday meal this year:

• Hot peppers-they have a proven benefit to fight skin cancer. You can incorporate them into a staple dish or create something entirely new.

• Tart Cherries-a handful before bed can actually help you sleep better

• Potatoes-they may help reduce your risk of having a stroke

• And lastly Avocados-they have more than 20 vitamins and minerals

"Leutin, which is a plant chemical that fights macular degeneration, is great for the eyes. It's also rich in the type of fat that lowers the risk of heart disease which are mono-saturated fats. So that little avocado is packed with a lot of good stuff," said Grotto.

And if you want to find out more information about the benefits of certain foods, Grotto has a new book, "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life" which can be used as a guide to help you to start incorporating these foods into your diet.

Originally aired: 11-19-07