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| Cranberry Vinaigrette |
Avoid holiday weight gain, and still enjoy the feast? Gorging on your favorite holiday foods can widen
your waistline, but they don't have to spell dietary disaster. In fact, some of
your guiltiest pleasures may be good for you.
At this time of year, you can hardly escape hearing that Americans gain
about 5 pounds during the holidays.
True, some people probably pack on that much, or
more, with holiday foods. For the rest of us, the weight increase is actually a
lot less, however. That's the conclusion
from a New England Journal of Medicine study, which found most people gained
about a pound between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
But that's no reason to eat with wild abandon during
the holidays. Putting on a pound or so
every year makes a big difference when you never get around to losing those
extra pounds. In a decade's time, the
effects of nibbling a few cookies here and there may easily add 10 pounds to
your frame. The trick is to minimize the
damage from holiday foods and have fun at the same time.
Eating regular meals and snacks every day makes it
easier to resist overdoing it at festive events. When you occasionally skimp on
meals because you're busy shopping, wrapping, and baking, nosh on a
protein-packed snack, such as low-fat yogurt or reduced-fat cheese, to blunt
your hunger before gathering with family or friends.
Sure, they taste great and they tempt you to eat too
much, but it rarely pays to avoid favorite holiday foods. Depriving yourself of a holiday treat can
backfire and make you crave the food even more, leading to overeating. Pick what to splurge on rather than
mindlessly nibbling on any party food that comes your way. Knowing the calorie counts of holiday foods
may stop you from reaching for another ladle of gravy, a second piece of cheesecake,
or another cup of eggnog.
A few small tricks to curbing caloric intake include:
taking smaller portions (I’m a big fan
of using smaller plates…the larger the plate, the higher some tend to pile the
food). Since the first few bites of any
food provide the most pleasure; once you've finished your treat, fight the urge
for more. Sit far from buffet tables,
candy dishes, and cookie-laden platters.
Excuse yourself from the dinner table when finished eating. Keep your mouth busy by talking with friends
and family…lol, this is an easy one for me!
Chew gum or a sugarless breath mint to dissuade further snacking. If you're able, brush your teeth; the taste
of toothpaste dulls taste buds.
The whole secret is not to take the joy out of the
holiday while watching calories…eat wisely and let the company of friends and
family fill you up, rather than that second piece of pie!
Cranberry Vinaigrette
This is a stunning salad dressing that I served at a holiday
dinner earlier this month. Bright, bold
and a beautiful color! Serve over a bed
of organic mixed greens with a vibrant red apple, dried cranberries and toasted pecans.
2/3 cup
fresh cranberries (or frozen cranberries)
1/4 cup
sugar 1/2 cup white wine vinegar (or white balsamic vinegar)
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Directions:
1.Combine
cranberries, sugar, and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook
until the cranberries
pop, about 5-10 minutes.
2.Remove
from the heat and let cool. Transfer to a blender or food processor and pulse
until smooth. Add the mustard and orange juice and blend to combine. With the
motor running, stream in the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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