 Choose holiday calories carefully
The holiday season is in full swing and you will likely be attending social events for the next several weekends. This means a lot of food and drink that is going to be very hard to resist. There will be special dishes or treats that you don't get other times of the year; eggnog is a perfect example. Perhaps we wouldn't drink so much of it if it was available at any time?
Your best bet for navigating this caloric onslaught is to plan ahead and prioritize.
Be very careful with alcohol. Keep in mind that it is a triple threat. First, it's empty calories and has no nutritional value. Next, it inhibits the receptors in your brain that signal you are full, so you end up feeling hungry even if you have just eaten. Also, because it acts like sugar in your body, it can trigger sugar cravings for several days after you drink. It's certainly OK to indulge, but be sure to keep the effects in mind when you make your choices.
Choose your indulgences carefully. For example, I love those frosted, store-bought, sugar cookies. They are available year-round; they just change the frosting color to match the season. Did you know they are 180 calories each? I really do love those cookies, but once I looked at the nutritional label, I decided my calories were better spent elsewhere.
For the homemade goodies, estimate high and double your estimate. If you think something is 50-100 calories, assume 200. Oh, and that eggnog I mentioned above? Just a half cup will cost you 200 calories.
Lastly, when you do choose what you are going to enjoy, enjoy it. Eat it slowly, pay attention and taste it. And don't forget, social time is really about people, not about food.
I hope that you have a Merry Christmas!
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