"May peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through"
-Unknown
Website: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/desserts/low-calorie/recipe-makeovers-low-cal-holiday-cookies/?esrc=nwfitdailytip112310&email=2686729334 Low calories Christmas cookies!
With Thanksgiving and Christmas, the dreaded buffet can hit pretty hard. The diet will start in January right?
It's hard to hit a party and not pig-out with every type of cheese and dips within an arms reach. Enjoy the party but protect your waistline. Yes, you can have dessert :)
First, remember Christmas is all about family and friends. Enjoy their company and the precious time you get this season. Have fun at the party and their is no need to eat celery all night-it is ok to relax some but this doesn't mean your plate should resemble Mount Everest!
4 things to AVOID this Christmas party season:
1. Arrive at the party hungry. All to often people skip/severly limit their consumption throughout the day in order to make up for the over-indulgence that is bound to happen. Save up your calories right? Wrong! Being famished will send you on the fast track to poor decisions. Instead, limit your refined carbs and fats throughout the day and replace them with proteins and fibers to help you feel full so you only eat what you are truly hungry for at the party.
2. Working out as an excuse to eat more. The average person consumes 5000 calories at a Christmas meal! That is a serious exercise session if you hope to compensate for that, plan on running about 50 miles to work that off!! Instead, try adding 10 minutes to your workout throughout the week and not letting your mind take this as a free card to eat whatever you want this Christmas.
3. Try a little bit of it all. We all know the drill, grab the plate, walk the buffet, grab one piece of everything in sight. You wouldn't want to miss anything good! Research has shown that too many types of food can stimulate your appetite. Instead survey the spread and decide on the few things you truly want. After eating, get away from the buffet to eat and then throw your plate away...you will be less likely to walk back for more.
4. Giving up. Just because you had one too many mini-quiches for an appetizer does not mean you should throw in the towel and continue to eat poorly. Turn on the pause button and make a plan for the rest of the night.
Now that you have strategized, what in the world do you eat so you don't go overboard!
1. Dips (Just because you put it on a carrot does not mean it's healthy):
-Try Salsa (9 calories) or hummus (54 calories)
-Avoid spinach dip (78 calories) and cream cheese salmon (70 calories)
2. Cheese (cheese platters just make it truly Christmas right?)
-All cheeses are high in protein but stick to about 2 oz (length of 2 fingers)
-Cheddar (229 calories), Brie (189 calories), swiss (215 calories), mozzarella (170 calories)
3. Finger foods (these bite sized pleasures can add up quickly)
-3 California Sushi Rolls (125 calories), Chicken skewers (94 calories), shrimp cocktail (83 calories)
4. Cocktails (a sure shot way to load up on sugar)
-Sangria (82 calories) Sure, it's full of sugar but at least it gives you antioxidants
-Mojito (135 calories), champagne (100 calories), Eggnog (257 calories), Martini (800 calories)
5. Dessert (our favorite part!!)
-Apple pie (411 calories), pumpkin pie (316 calories), Carrot cake (250 calories), Gingerbread (263 calories), 3 chocolate chip cookies (234 calories), 4 chocolate-dipped strawberries (166 calories)
Go in with a plan that is not too restrictive. Enjoy this Christmas season and make the most of your parties without killing the waistline.
Megan
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