This is sponsored content from BlogHer and The Laughing Cow.
I love the holiday season for a whole host of reasons: the weather, the family time, the football, the Thanksgiving dinner, the roaring fires, the Christmas trees, the Harry Connick, Jr. Christmas CD, the twinkling lights that make everything look beautiful.
And there’s one other thing that I really, REALLY love about the holiday season, though it probably isn’t an entirely positive object of my affection:
THE APPETIZERS.
Oh, y’all. I adore appetizers. And it seems like the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to make lots of them. After all, you never know when someone might stop by. Plus, since November and December are pretty much the only months of the year when I really BAKE (as opposed to cook), we like to scatter lots of sweet treats among our selection of appetizers. After all, how in the world could I possibly offer our guests something savory without also offering them something sweet? It only stands to reason that I would HAVE TO HAVE both.
It’s a purely selfless act, you understand.
But the problem, of course, is that if I give into all my cravings – with the appetizers and sweets at the top of the list – over the holidays, then I’m going to find myself in need of a new wardrobe when January rolls around. And while I would never claim to emerge from the holiday season in better shape than when I started it, I do keep a few tips in the back of my mind that help me make it through all of our holiday festivities without wreaking too much weight-related havoc.
Ready? Here we go.
1) Keep healthier snack options on hand at all times.
I have a terrible habit of snacking and tasting while I’m cooking and baking. And obviously if I choose to snack on cake batter and cheesecake batter and cookie dough and all manner of butter-laden confections, I’m going to be in a world of hurt by the end of the holidays. So I make a point to buy whole wheat crackers, small packets of cheese (The Laughing Cow Original is a long-time favorite), peanut butter and almonds so that I always have filling, healthier snacks in the kitchen.
2) Eat a healthy snack at home before heading out to a holiday party.
Now I don’t mean to sound like Scarlett O’Hara before she went to the barbecue, but it’s so much easier to resist the temptations of fattening party foods if you’re not ravenous when you arrive. It’s pretty remarkable how much a healthy snack helps. So about 15 minutes before we walk out the door, I’ll fix myself a little plate with almonds, cheese and whole-grain crackers. That little plate goes a long way in terms of keeping me from falling face-down into a pile of 7-layer Mexican dip, and for that we’re all quite thankful.
3) Use smaller plates at holiday meals.
Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t have any intention of serving my guests a meal on a saucer. But modern dinner plates are HUGE – the size of charger plates, practically – so I make a point to use my very old-fashioned holiday china when we entertain. The plates are considerably smaller than what passes for normal these days, and you can fill it to the brim with food without feeling guilty. The smaller plate keeps portions much more manageable, and even better is the fact that you don’t feel completely stuffed when the meal is over. That’s a win-win.
Now it’s your turn – Share tip on how you keep holiday food from getting the best of you and you could win a $150 Visa card! Please keep your comments G-rated as any profanity or offensive content will automatically disqualify you from sweepstakes entry. You should also visit The Daily Dose of Well-Being hub to read helpful content each day and for weekly chances to win $100 at the “Play For Laughs†game. If you share a really great tip, we may even use it in The Daily Dose!
And don’t miss the other bloggers’ posts – you have 11 other chances to win each month!
Questions about the sweepstakes? Check out the official rules. This sweepstakes will run from 11/15-12/5
Happy Laughing Cow, everybody!
This giveaway is now closed.
Start with small amounts on small plates of whatever you desire – you can always go back for more!
Keep portions small and don’t over do it.
i eat steamed veg before going to holiday parties. that way, i don’t gorge on the appetizers being passed around.
I don’t imbibe. I can really keep much better control if I have not had a glass of wine!
I try to drink a couple of glasses of water with lemon before meals and fill most of my plate with greens. I fill the nooks and crannies with the rest of the food I want.
Don’t stop the workout…If you keep up with your workouts, you have a little more wiggle room when it comes to parties!
Have your favorite holiday treats, but just a few bites, not 2 servings. This really helps me feel like I’m not being deprived.
I grab one kids plate full of whatever I want. I eat that and don’t go back for anymore.
Easy to follow, genuine advice, Sleep, regular healthy eating, hydrate, and exercise. Those are the main keys to a healthy life.
http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/10064223161810944
If I know I’m heading into a ‘danger zone’ setting, I try to have a little fiber and protein before I head out.
And water too!
http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/10069281731514368
This is a hard one for me; parties/gatherings seem to be the only times that I overindulge. I’m not sure why that is, so I’m enjoying reading all of these tips. This year I am going to try and keep my will-power under control! There is no need to try every single dessert on the buffet!
I’m going to have my passive-aggressive mother follow me around and mutter under her breath about the size of my butt.
But if she’s not available I plan to be uber-careful about making room in my day for those extras. I’ll be eating plenty of whole grains & fruit for breakfast, soups and salads for lunches and dinners..maybe even squeezing in an extra walk ( or A walk) so that I can enjoy the holiday goodies and still maintain. I’m no skinny girl, but my plan for the holidays is simply “Maintain, don’t gain”!
I fill up the healthy stuff before I leave home and also have a bottle of water handy. Thanks for offering this giveaway!!
Eating “well” most days and allowing for 1 splurge day each week.
Definitely eat in moderation and I try not to eat late at night!
The “keep a few healthier nibbles on hand plus eat a small snack before attending a party” are great tips that I’ve tried to incorporate into the holiday food-frenzy-free-for-all!!! Laughing Cow makes me smile.
Well, I’d say – have a WHOLE LOT OF KIDS! I have six, and when I bake anything, it is devoured before I can even turn around, so MY eating opportunities are limited. Sigh.
I try to stand away from the food while I’m chatting – otherwise it’s too tempting to keep “grazing” bc it’s just sitting there!
Ummm… stress over finances. Can’t eat. Lose weight. Not recommended.
My theory is that it’s ok to have a little bit of the things you want but moderation is the key. If you deny yourself things you’ll want them even more. I also like to make whatever I can from scratch so that I can use low-fat or low-cal ingredients wherever possible.
I try to think before I eat. think about what really is worth the calories and not just eat a little of everything.
I eat what I want within limits when I am at holiday parties but try to be careful during my normal eating/meal times. I also try to drink water before I go to a party to feel full.
I like to snack on baked bagel chips and one wedge of original Laughing Cow cheese. It’s amazing how filling that small amount can be and it really helps me slow down at the buffet line!
I, too, try to keep healthy snacks on hand. I love myself some veggies and dip {hey, the dip definitely gets cancelled out by all those veggies!}, so I try to fill up on those *before* going for the cheese-stuffed carbohydrate-overloaded treats :) I also try to drink a lot of water. Dehydration can make you believe you’re hungry when really you’re thirsty.
Breakfast!! I mean a REAL breakfast–the kind with scrambled eggs and bacon, not some sissified food like grapefruit or smoothies. The protein fills you up and studies show that you eat 25% less calories when you eat a good breakfast!
I have been working on losing weight since July (Counting calories.) Lost 30 lbs. so far, so that is my motivation. Don’t want to gain it all back. :)
I make sure I eat something healthy with lots of water before I go to a party with great food. Then I make sure I don’t graze the whole time.
I keep up with my exercise routine and try to eat sensibly. That means if I overdo on one or two outings, it’s not the end of the world. I also try to drink more water and eliminate sodas entirely during the holidays.
I like to get a little bit of everything but not a lot of anything! I don’t want to miss any part of the buffet!
Drink lots of water! (I don’t do this very well but I know it helps!)
I only eat the special holidays foods & desserts on the day of the holiday. That way I get to enjoy the food and still get to fit in my pants :)
I don’t keep any candy/goodies in my house until right before I have people over. I don’t even want the temptation!!
I have been being careful about what I eat, since I had my blood work done and a few things were out of wack!So I do indulge every now and then!Been cutting back and trying to eat more healthy! It’s been hard with all the good food during the holidays!
I just try to have some semblance of portion control. Or snitch food from my husband’s plate. I don’t crave sweets, but any sort of appetizer? It’s my kryptonite….
Water, water, water . . . drink lots!!
By eating everything I want, in tiny appropriately portioned amounts :)
I’d love to be entered!
I always keep something to drink in my hand while I am at a party or gathering. It is WAY too difficult to balance a plate of food AND a drink, so I have a glass of water going all evening and just have a small plate once during the night. that I I can’t gorge myself on the yummy food. I also avoid the deserts altogether!
Eat smaller meals along with a morning and afternoon snack – keeps the metabolism up and blood sugar level. I remind myself I’m not there for the food, but the fellowship. {And repeat it several times!!}
One indulgence a day! thats it, whether one bonbon or one cookie! So hard, but it helps keeps the pounds off!
I try not to make any food off-limits during the holidays, I just allow myself a small portion.
Allow myself some chocolate. But then get up and do my exercise video in the morning.
I really try to not overeat because I hate feeling too full! So I try to take reasonable sized portions.
At holiday parties, focus more on the fresh veggie trays and go very lightly on the other goodies…
I have small portions of everything, and I studiously ignore the “grazing” table set up for the whole month of December in my office! I work with a lot of really talented bakers, too! Merry Christmas :)
I usually just limit my portions to one or two bites of each thing I want to try. I really like the idea of eating first, though, because then I think I would be more satisfied with the portion sizes I allow myself.
I try to ‘plan’ for those celebratory kinds of eatings that happens during the holidays by really backing off of unhealthy snacking or eating during the preceeding few days.
I always have what I want…I just never eat it all..or even a half of a serving..usually just a few bites….
When we have a holiday gathering to go to we always eat a late big breakfast that way when its time to go to the gathering we aren’t that hungry. So hopefully we will just kinda snack.
Two things that I do that kinda help me. 1. I cook ahead of time and freeze everything I can. Since my freezer is in the garage, outside of the house, I tend to leave the stuff alone. 2. This is the better one…I simple give myself permission to endulge. I don’t do it all the time but, gosh, why should I cook all this great food and not eat any of it myself??!!
As much as possible (not the gravy obviously) I substitute lower fat/sugar ingredients for all my holiday dishes. For example, in one dessert I used sugar free chocolate pudding, substituted spenda for 1/3 of the powered sugar, used low fat cream cheese and cool whip–no one even seemed to notice.
http://twitter.com/#!/fostertam/status/11064595766583296
I’ll enjoy eating what I like, but make sure to eat in moderation and use portion control.
I try to use lowfat (usually not non-fat because taste DOES matter) versions of things. For example, if it calls for cream, I use a mix of half-n-half and fat-free milk. For cheesecake, I do one full fat, one low fat. Keeps the texture right, but cuts some calories. And I make “mini” versions of everything – mini-cookies, mini-bar cookies, mini everything! That way, if people want to try everything, they can without worrying as much about the volume.
I try to include a MUFA at everyone of my meals and walk for five minutes after eating.
My strategy for handling the holidays works pretty well for me. I know the days that there will be parties and family get togethers. I allow myself to indulge on those days, but on the remaining days, I am very strict with my intake….steering completely clear of sugar and most carbs.
I focus on the delicious choices I DO have and not what I should avoid.
try not to be starving when i go.
My strategy is to stay healthy all year round and indulge around the holiday season. I like to work out and I tend to eat clean year round, so when the holidays roll around I don’t feel bad about sampling the goody tray.
pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com
http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/11541705782198272
Thanks!
ooh…I think for me it’s knowing what happens to me when I overindulge so not a good thing… my thing is the grazing of the chocolate..so I try not to even buy the sweets period! I drink lots of water and eat regularly and dance with my girls…so that keeps me at bay and evens out any over indulgence I do partake in!
I start excercising more starting in october and then I eat healthy also, i bring a lot of my own foods to holiday dinners
shopgurl101 at gmail dot com
Rather than post-dinner cookies or desert, a nice family walk in the quiet starry snowy night helps work off AND avoid calories :)
I use the wii to dance with and stay fit and I’m not a big sweets eater so that’s not really a problem. I just eat small portions of things I like so it works out pretty well.
Use an exercise that you love which will make it easier to stick with.
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/11668476947070976
Thanks
Holiday food always gets the best of me so I try not to be too hard on myself this time of year! The key is moderation and trying to stay away from the items that have higher caloric contents…anything with “cake” in the name being the exception! I also offer to help with preparing food and then take that opportunity to make something on the healthy-side so I know I have at least one healthy option available.
I just eat small portions and try not to deprive myself…because if I do I will go hog wild:) That with exercise!
Don’t starve yourself all day before a party… you will only gorge when you get to the party and then feel miserable! I eat a few small meals during the day and then don;t feel the need to go overboard on the goodies at the party :)
This year I am pregnant so my husband and my doctors are trying to get me to gain weight. Bring on the food! ;)
I chew gum as much as possible even if it gives me a headache :)
I have to go to my kickboxing classes twice a week. I work so hard there, that I don’t want to ruin it with holiday food!
In the past, I have skipped meals before party time, and by the time food was served, I was STARVING and overendulged. Now I eat small protien rich meals before hand, and enjoy a little of everything.
I just try to stop eating when I’m full. That way I’m not miserable the rest of the day.