If you’re like me your fridge will be stuffed to the gills with holiday leftovers in a few short days. When that happens I want you to immediately get rid of the fattening ones—or send them home with your guests. You don’t want that plum pudding or pecan pie—or that sinful panetonne, if you’re Italian like me—to wind up on your waistline. However, when you’re cleaning house, don’t toss the good leftovers!  Some classic holiday foods, far from being wicked, can actually help you burn off extra pounds. Here’s a look at four of my favorites.

Turkey or Prime Rib

Seriously… you aren’t planning on throwing those beautiful turkey or prime rib bones in the trash, are you? If you are, you’re tossing away a treasure. Instead, transform those bones into fabulous turkey or beef bone broth. You’ll discover that bone broth is even more delicious when it’s made from bones you’re already roasted. Use your broth, along with leftover meat and veggies, to make slimming soups—or take off your extra holiday pounds quickly by doing one or two bone broth mini-fasts.

Chocolate

Here’s good news: If you have dark chocolate left over from your holiday baking, it belongs on the nice list, not the naughty list. Why? Because dark chocolate is rich in chemicals that help heal chronic inflammation—and that translates into easier weight loss. Chocolate also reduces cravings, so you naturally eat less. And it can increase insulin sensitivity, which is a huge key to weight loss success. Choose chocolate with a cacao percentage of at least 70 and avoid milk chocolate, which is low in cacao and contains lots of unhealthy ingredients. And enjoy chocolate in moderation—a square or two at a time, not a whole bar.

Cranberries

If you wind up with an extra bag of cranberries in your fridge or freezer after the holidays, don’t throw it out! Cranberries are rich in phytonutrients that help fight inflammation—and as I mentioned earlier, lower inflammation equals quicker weight loss. To use up extra cranberries quickly, toss them into smoothies. You can balance their tartness by adding half a banana as well.

Walnuts

When I’m done with my holiday baking, I toss leftover walnuts into salads or eat them as snacks. They’re filling, they keep you satisfied for hours, and they’re rich in healthy fats that can help you lose weight.  In addition, they can lower your fasting insulin levels if you’re diabetic. Just remember that when it comes to nuts, you don’t want to overdo it. A serving size is one closed handful. — For tips on still more fat-burning foods you should add to your diet, check out my FREE ebook, 5 Fat-Burning Foods that Melt Off the Pounds. It’s free, it’s informative, and it has some great recipes that will help you lose those post-holiday pounds!

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!