LOWFAT GUIDELINES
1- If you eat something and no one sees you doing so, it has no calories.
2- If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the soda.
3- When you eat with someone else, calories don't count if you do not eat more than they do.
4- Food used for medicinal purposes never count, such as chocolate cake, margaritas and cheesecake.
5- Movie related foods do not count as additional calories because they are part of the entire entertainment package and one's personal fuel. This includes milk duds, junior mints, M&M's, and buttered popcorn.
6- Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories, if you are in the process of preparing something. Examples: peanut butter on a knife if you making a sandwich or ice cream off a spoon when making a sundae.
7- Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breaking the cookies causes calorie leakage.
THE ABOVE ARE TEMPTING ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IGNORE THEM AND STICK TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES
1- Never starve yourself before a party. You will be so hungry when you get there that you will want to eat everything in sight. That does not mean over doing it during the day. Eat low-fat, nutritious foods such as a whole grain cereal, fruit and low-fat milk for breakfast, then a vegetable/bean soup and salad for lunch.
2- Have you been asked to contribute something to a get together? This is your chance to create a low-fat dip, salad (with low-fat dressing), fresh fruit or vegetable platter, healthy dessert, or anything else that you'll be able to nibble at guilt free. In fact, don't wait to be asked. Offer your services.
3- Remember, holiday events are for socializing, not eating. Put more focus on the getting together than on the food and drink. When panning a party, schedule an activity such as dancing or games.
4- If you overdo it at one meal, simply go right back to your routine. And be sure to exercise.
5- Learn the art of substitutions. Non-fat or low-fat sour cream works well as regular in dips. In cheesecake recipes, replace heavy cream with evaporated skim milk. For baking bread, try applesauce instead of oil. Substitute egg whites for whole eggs (two egg whites for each egg). Instead of loading a recipe with nuts, which are full of fat, sprinkle a few on top.
6- Make everybody's favorite, but take smaller portions.
7- Limit alcohol consumption. Alternate each alcoholic drink with water to stay hydrated. Nothing reduces willpower like a few stiff drinks.
8- When challenged up against a buffet line avoid breaded and fried hors d'oeuvres, stuffed pastries and high fat salty snacks like pate or salami. Choose fresh fruit and vegetables, grilled kabobs or steamed shrimp. Pass up chunks of high fat cheese and big dollops of dip in favor of a thin smear of soft cheese or dip on whole grain crackers, flatbread pita or melba toast.
