Written by Gloria Tsang, RD of HealthCastle.com Published in Dec 2004; Updated in Nov 2006
(HealthCastle.com) It's that party season again! How can we avoid putting on extra weight while having a great time? The following are some holiday eating tips so that you can still look good and be healthy in January without having to deprive yourself of all the holiday treats.
Don't go to a party hungry: we often eat faster and more when we are hungry - therefore eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day to avoid overeating at the party.
Watch your portion: treat yourself a nice drink, dessert, chocolate or sweets without guilt, but always watch your portion. Go for small portions. This way you can sample all the different foods. Moderation is always the key.
Make a conscious choice to limit high fat items: high fat food items can be found in fried food, cream-based soup, cheese-filled casseroles, pies, processed meats such as salami and sausages, some pastries and baked goods. Don't forget about eggnog - usually made with egg yolk and thick cream.
Try other versions of alcohol: instead of beer, cider, Bailey's and Kahlua, try dry wine, Bloody Marys or spirits with diet mixer which have fewer calories. Remember: Calories from alcohol tend to be stored in the abdomen. People who are overweight actually gain weight more easily when they consume alcohol.
Drink plenty of water: alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body.
Physical activity: take nice brisk walks with your loved ones and enjoy their company in the holiday season.
Holiday Eating Tips: Recipe substitutions
If you are the chef of the party, try the following lower-fat recipe substitutions.
Recipe calls for
Substitution
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
sour cream
low fat plain yogurt or low fat sour cream
milk
skim or 1%
ice cream
frozen yogurt
heavy cream (not for whipping)
2 tablespoons flour whisked into 2 cups non fat milk
whipped cream
chilled evaporated skim milk or other low fat whipped products such as Nutriwhip
cheese
low-fat cheese (non-fat cheese does not melt well if use in cooking or baking)
Many other products such as mayonnaise, cheese, cream soup, sour cream have lower-fat versions so experiment with them in your cooking.
Moderation is the key! We hope you enjoy this article. Healthcastle Nutrition wishes you a Happy Holiday Season.
Moderation is the key! We hope you enjoy this article. Healthcastle Nutrition wishes you a Happy Holiday Season.
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