| December 10, 2008 |
Eight Holiday Party Survival Tips
Do you have a few holiday parties slated for the upcoming weeks? Of course you do! By now you may know exactly how to handle that annoying cousin or snobby aunt, but do you know how to handle your waistline? It’s no secret that we eat and drink waaaay more than we should in between and during the holidays, so it’s time for a plan of attack! Here you have it – eight survival tips for your food-happy festivities!
Never show up super-hungry. Just like we shouldn’t grocery shop on an empty stomach. Eat something light before you head to a party.
Wear fitted party clothes. Doing so will help keep you from shamelessly stuffing too much food down your belly. Because...where’s it gonna go?
Drink 1 to 2 glasses of water right before or right after you arrive at the party. This will help you feel fuller and curb cravings.
Don’t eat anything during your first 20 to 30 minutes at the party. Mingle, socialize, and don’t stand on top of the food (literally and figuratively).
Don’t get caught empty-handed. Always have a drink in one hand (stick to no-cal beverages for most of the night!) and something else in the other (your pocket, a purse, your significant others’ hand). This way you’ll be less likely to graze, because your hands will be full.
Don’t deprive yourself. It’s okay to enjoy some treats, just remember to do so in moderation.
Make a deal with yourself. Only after eating 5 pieces of something “good” (like veggies from the veggie tray), allow yourself to indulge in one piece of something “bad” (like cookies or candy). You’ll likely fill up before you even hit round 2 of the bad stuff!
Watch what you drink. Eggnog, spiced cider, and hot cocoa can all be diet-busting disasters and a complete waste of calories. You are better off reaching for water or other no-calorie drinks.
Holiday Shockers!
A slice of pecan pie sounds delicious, but it likely has at least 600 calories and more than 30 grams of fat. That pie is packing more than just pecans!
Chips and dip are at every party. While that onion dip might seem like a good choice, be aware that just 2 tablespoons contain about 60 calories and 6 grams of fat. That’s only about 2 chips’ worth!
A cup of eggnog usually clocks in with more than 400 calories and 20 grams of fat. Ack!!
Stuffed mushrooms may seem like a great option (they are vegetables, right?), but just 6 small stuffed mushrooms at your average party can contain as much as 400 calories and 30 grams of fat! Leave ‘em for Santa!
Sweet potato pie often has about 350 calories and 16 grams of fat per slice. And remember, it’s just a side dish!
De-Pudged Pigs-in-a-BlanketLove Pigs-in-a-blanket but don’t love the way you feel after you devour a plate of 'em? Here's a guilt-free swap! 8 fat-free or nearly fat-free hot dogs (40 to 50 calories each)1 can (8 servings) Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls refrigerated doughDirections Cut each hot dog into 4 even pieces. Take 1 of the 8 triangle-shaped portions of the dough and stretch or roll it out slightly, making it into a larger triangle. Then cut this piece of dough into 4 long, narrow triangles. Beginning at the base of each of these triangles, roll 1 hot dog piece up in each triangle until the point of the triangle wraps around the center. Place your blanketed pigs on a large, ungreased baking pan and repeat entire process 7 more times with the remaining dough and hot dog pieces. (Be sure to evenly space them, as the dough will expand while baking.) Place pan in the oven and cook for about 12 minutes, until dough appears slightly browned and crispy. Enjoy! Makes 8 Servings Nutritional Info per Serving (4 pigs-in-a-blanket Recipe and photo courtesy of Hungry Girl. |
Meet the Trainer
Crystal is a certified personal trainer through the National Sports and Conditioning Association (NSCA). She has a passion for helping others live a healthy lifestyle and coaching them to push their limits beyond what they think they are capable of.
