Holiday Survival Tactics

Holidays and special events are usually non-stop cues for eating. Trays of nibbles are set out, alcohol is served in abundance, and meals could feed an entire army batalion.

So, lets look at some specific ways to survive holidays and special events. If you're doing the entertaining, the preliminary work can be especially taxing. With hectic schedules, there never seems to be enough time to plan, clean, shop, and cook. You can help yourself by practicing time management and getting help from others. Plan your time by sitting down and writing out daily schedules for the weeks before the event. Determine what you can reasonably do in that time frame and when you plan to do it. Remember that you don't have to do everything yourself. Get your spouse, children, and other relatives involved with the cleaning, shopping, and cooking. For example, your husband can go to the grocery store, the kids can clean assigned areas of the house, and your extended family can bring some food. If you can afford it, consider hiring help to clean, cater meals, and serve food. Some catering firms specialize in "home-cooked meals" so that nobody has to know you didn't do it yourself. these tips can reduce stress and associated earing cues before they occur.

When planning the types of food to serve, why not choose healthier, lower fat alternatives? You don't necessarily have to give up traditional favorites, if you modify recipes to cut down on fat and sugar. For instance, turkey stuffing can be made low-fat by sauteing onions and celery in broth rather than butter. A simple way to cut calories in gelatin molds is to use sugar-free gelatin. Take a look at your recipes to see if you can eliminate or decrease some ingredients or substitute lower calorie alternatives.

It's also a great time to establish new traditional dishes. there are plenty of low-calorie, gourmet cookbooks on the market. Look through some to see if any of the delicious dishes would fit into your entertainment plans.

On the day of the event, there are several ways you can control your eating. Eating a high-bilk food such as an apple, salad, or bowl of whoe grain cereal can fill you ip beforehand so that you are less likely to overeat. As soon as you get to the function, look over the food and pick out a few "special" foods to eat and skip the others. Eat slowly and savor every bite to get pleasure from small amounts. By allowing yourself selected delicious foods, you can enjoy yourself without feeling deprived or guilty. Distance yourself from all other foods so you aren't tempted to eat them. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to cut back calorie intake for a few days before and after, so you can eat a little more than usual.

What do you do if your friends and family traditionally give baked goods, gourmet food baskets, candy, or alcohol for gifts? BEforehand, tell everyone about your diet and ask them to forego food gifts. If you still get them, thank the person, but later give the food away to other friends, neighbors, co-workers. This way, you won't hurt the giver's feelings, and you'll eliminate the temptation.

Exercising regularly will keep your metabolism up and help prevent rebound gain during yoru break. Do some type of exercise as close to daily as possible. Taking a 20 minute walk each day will make a significant difference in maintaining current progress.

The final suggestion for handling holidays and special events is to return to the original intention of these occasions. They're intended as social gatherings with friends and families, not food orgies. Start emphasizing the social interactions. Plan group activities that everyone will enjoy. If possible, include group walks or sports activities so you can burn calories as well as have fun. By enjoying the company of others, you can enjoy events without relying on food.

Traditional Holiday Meal ITEM CALORIES Appetizer 1/4c assorted nuts 204 4ea Cheese & Crackers 500 Dinner 4oz Turkey - Light & Dark 233 1/2c cranberry sauce 210 1c stuffing 396 1/4c gravy 164 1/2c mashed potatoes 111 1/2c green beans almondine 80 1/2c corn 67 1/2c candied yams 101 1 roll with butter 175 2 c white wine 364 Desert 1 slice pumpkin pie 317 1/4c vanilla ice cream 67 TOTAL CALORIES 2989

Reduced Calorie Holiday Meal ITEM CALORIES Appetizer 1c raw fuit veggies 85 Dinner 3oz Turkey - Light 166 1/4c cornbread stuffing 58 1/4c defatted gravy 30 1/2 average sweet potatoe 58 1/2c green beans 20 1/2c carrots 36 1/2c broccoli 26 1 c white wine spritzer 50 Desert Fresh Fruit Cup with low calorie whipped topping 100 TOTAL CALORIES 629