by Barbara A. Black

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2008

The holidays are upon us, and we all want to make sure we don't develop that "holiday bulge"! So how can we keep our weight down, while enjoying the holidays and being good guests and/or hosts?

First, make sure you plan your own holiday celebrations with an eye to low-calorie but high-satisfaction foods. For instance, a fruit salad made of mostly fresh or water-canned fruits would be preferable to one made with high-calorie fruits. Low-calorie whipped toppings will make the salad more decorative, while still holding the sugar content down. You can even make cookies and cakes using part sugar and part sugar substitute. Most people won't be able to tell the difference!

Another thing you can do when you are entertaining is to break the meal up into courses, with everything divided into small servings. The salad would be served first, and could even be already divided out on saucers or small plates. Then, when everyone seems to be finished with that, the meat could be passed around. Next, the vegetables, in medium-sized bowls, so everyone will be able to hold the bowl while spooning some out. The spoons need to be regular-sized tablespoons or serving spoons, or the servings will be too large! Later, after everyone has finished and visited a while, the desserts can be brought out, and served with after-dinner drinks or coffee.

When you go to someone else's home, you can take small servings of foods that look as if they are high-calorie, as long as you don't eat too much of them. But it's better to choose from the ones that look more low-calorie. Of course, you don't want to insult your hostess by refusing something she thinks you would really enjoy; in that case, just take a little of it to try!

Also, take your time eating; the longer it takes to finish the first plate, the fuller you will feel when you finish it, and the less likely you are to get a huge helping of something else. And when you do finish that first plate, visit for a while before you go back for seconds. That way, you will be less likely to overeat, also.

When you do go back for another plate, try out some of the fresh fruits and/or vegetables. They are finger foods, and are healthier, lower in calories, and take longer to eat, so you eat less-but still feel that you've eaten much more!

Following these tips should help you enjoy the holidays without adding those extra pounds.

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