Eggnog, Cookies & Pie: Oh My!

As the holiday season draws near, seasonal treats are everywhere.

We asked our RDonCall, licensed dietician Anne Lashier, for tips on how to keep holiday eating under control.

• Survey the entire table before you take any food. Decide what foods are worth eating and what can be ignored, and then stick to that decision. Why waste calories on foods that don’t bring you pleasure?  
• Eat a snack before you leave home. If you arrive at a party starving, you’ll be more likely to overindulge.
• Eat your calories instead of drinking them. Stick to lower-calorie or calorie-free drinks (diet sodas, water, light beer, or wine spritzer) instead of punches, eggnogs, and mixed drinks. These sweet drinks can have up to 500 calories per cup.  
• Sip a large glass of water between every alcoholic drink or non-alcoholic punch or eggnog. This will help keep you hydrated and you’ll drink fewer calories by the end of the night.  
• When you are the host or hostess, include nutritious and lower-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats on the menu. When you are a guest, bring along a lower-calorie dish to share.  
• Try not to hang out near the food. Find a comfortable spot across the room and focus on people instead of eating.  
• Watch your portion sizes. Don’t cover your plate completely with food. In most cases, especially when it comes to holiday sweets and alcoholic beverages, less is better.  
• Drop out of the “clean plate club.” Leave a few bites behind every time you eat, especially if you are eating something you don’t really care for.
• Enjoy your favorite holiday treats but take a small portion, eat slowly, and savor the taste and texture of the wonderful foods of the season.

Anne also let us in on a few free websites with great recipes for reduced-calorie and reduced-fat holiday recipes:

FoodFit <www.foodfit.com>
Delicious Decisions <www.deliciousdecisions.org>
AllRecipes <www.allrecipies.com>

Information courtesy Anne Lashier, MS, RD, LD. Interested in holding a holiday eating Lunch & Learn with Anne? Contact TOHP at (877) 441-8647.