| Eating Right For The Holidays |
| Party Tips: Never go to a party hungry. Eat a low-fat snack before you go. Limit alcohol calories, which are stored as fat. Choose diet sodas, club sodas or water so you don't waste calories on beverage. Exercise before eating Use small plates and take small portions Choose mostly fruits and vegetables, then add some of your favorite foods as a treat. Use salad dressing sparingly. Avoid soups and breads. Enjoy your favorite dessert, but watch your portion and don't go back for seconds. When socializing, move away from the buffet table Cooking and Preparing Holiday Foods: Use nonstick cooking sprays. Choose lower fat meats like turkey breast, lean ham and fillets. Prepare stuffing outside of turkey. Use a gravy separator to fat gravy. Use skim milk and low-fat cheese. Flavor with lots of herbs and spices. Use two egg whites rather than a whole egg in recipes Serve angel food cake with light whipped topping fruits. Test low-fat versions of recipes a few days before to be sure they taste good. Attending Dinner Parties: By planning ahead, you can put in a few extra minutes per walk and eat healthy meals on before and after a party. Don't go to a party starving! Grilled or broiled fish are your best bet for entries. Take second helpings of salads or vegetables if you are still hungry. Listen to your stomach and stop eating when full If you can, skip dessert or share with your date. Many holiday and family traditions revolve around foods that make the season special. Limiting high-fat foods, maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise year round will fend off significant permanent weight gain from holiday festivities. |