by Samantha Giving

Created on: July 31, 2008   Last Updated: August 07, 2008

Holidays should be time for fun and family. Instead they can be times of gluttony, and bulging waistlines. Do you need a little angel to beat up the little devil that is sitting on your shoulder? Put these recommendations in your bulge-fighting toolbox and you will beat the scale this holiday season!

1. Commitment. The most important key to success is commitment; you are in charge and you are in control. You have to commit to eating sensibly throughout the holiday season. Decide what you need to do to make the commitment to yourself: A formal contract with yourself? Wearing a tighter belt? Will you wear a ring on your hand that reaches for food to remind you? Do whatever you need to do. Once you have committed, the next few tips will make your resolution easier.

2. Host the parties. Host as many of the social events as possible. Your take charge attitude will permit you to set a low-fat and healthy menu. Be on the look-out for low calorie, easy to prepare food choices and file them away. Menu planning the week before your party will ensure that you serve the same old high-fat stand-bys.
3. Pick your crowd. Most of us have overflowing social calendars during the holidays and you may be in a position of deciding between two or more parties to attend. Select the party with either the healthiest host or the one your healthiest friends will be attending. Sticking with the healthiest crowd will make it easier not to over-indulge.
4. 5-10 Vegetable and Fruit Servings Per Day. The food guide recommends this and we should follow this every day. Making it policy during the holiday time will ensure that you are eating healthy, low calorie food in between festivities.
5. Bring your own wonderful treat. A hostess gift is a token of thanks for the person hosting the party. But, what if you brought a fantastic hostess gift that you could snack on all evening? An edible bouquet is the latest craze; something your hostess will love, it is simple to prepare and a wonderful, healthy snack to enjoy all evening!

How to prepare an Edible Bouquet:

Equipment:

1. Long Bamboo Skewers approx 50-75
2. Flower pot or Pedestal bowl
3. Plastic liner, if your container is not plastic
4. Floral Oasis
5. Leaves artificial or real
6. Different types of unblemished fruit. Good choices are mangoes, strawberries, pineapples and grapes.

Fruit Preparation:

1. Grapes Skewer 3-5 individual grapes onto a bamboo skewer
2. Strawberries Skewer individually through the stem
3. Kiwi Peel and cut in inch slices; skewer individually.
4. Mangoes Leave the peel on and slice into wedges; skewer individually.
5. Apples Leave intact and skewer.
6. Pineapple Peel and core. Put a grape or melon ball on a skewer, followed by a pineapple ring, then another grape or melon ball to fill the hole.
7. Melon Peel and prepare with a melon baller or cut into wedges and skewer.

Bouquet Preparation:

1. Envision your bouquet. There are many images on the internet to inspire you!
2. Fit the oasis snugly into your container, add liner if using.
3. Place your focal points or biggest pieces of fruit into the oasis first.
4. Add remaining fruit; from next largest to smallest.
5. Add foliage; from largest to smallest leaves.

Voil! You have a perfect hostess gift that will be perfect for healthy snacking all evening. Not only will you appear to be an angel, but you will be keeping the devil on your shoulder in check!

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