Surviving those holiday parties

The round of holiday parties begins this week. The friends, the family....the fruitcakes! Chances are you're going to be facing more platters  of bacon-wrapped bits, vats of hot cheese dip, and mounds of sugary sweets over the next three weeks than you will the rest of the year combined.  Making smart choices can allow you to enjoy yourself this season without adding an extra five or ten pounds to your New Year's Resolution.

1. Skip the mini-quiches and pigs-in-a-blanket and look for the mini-spinach pies and stuffed mushrooms.  Thin, crispy sheets of phyllo are much lower in fat than heavy pie crusts and biscuit doughs and they're usually brushed in healthy olive oil rather than butter.   Mushrooms are also low-calorie carriers for savory fillings.  Those savory fillings add up, though, so still exercise some portion control.

2. Cosy up to a hot drink.  Hot cider or hot mulled wine are delicious seasonal treats and you'll tend to drink hot, spiced drinks more slowly than chilled beverages. Fewer refills means fewer calories.

3. Fill up on vegetables.  You're sure to find a tray of fresh vegetables somewhere at every party. Mark its location and return frequently to refill your plate with crunchy veggies.  A spot of dip is fine but don't overdo it.

4. Go for the protein.  If your host has splurged on a lovely shrimp cocktail, osters on the half shell, or sliced roast beef, you've hit the jackpot.  Lean protein will help curb your appetite for more dangerous fare and a spot of horseradish or hot sauce also helps satisfy the urge to overeat.

5. Step away from the chafing dish!  Although "hot spinach and artichoke dip" sounds as if it's more vegetables than anything else, don't kid yourself: Its mostly cheese and mayonnaise.  If you're craving something cheesy, enjoy a small wedge of creamy brie instead (which is actually lower in fat and calories than hard cheeses like cheddar!).   Then, repeat steps 3 and 4.

6. Crack some nuts.  It takes just a few seconds to inhale several hundred calories worth of that salted nut mix. Instead, pick up the nutcracker and shell a couple of walnuts or almonds.

6. Have some candy.   When the desserts come out, grab a candy cane (60 calories) or chocolate truffle (40 calories) to savor and take a pass on the cookie plate (90 to 200 calories per, and who can stop at just one?)

Holiday Party Survival Guide: Which should you choose?

Mixed Nuts or Olives?
The ND Choice: Olives
Olives are high in monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, and low in calories.  While nuts also contain healthy fats, they are much higher in calories and it can be hard to stop at just one small serving.

Soft or Hard Cheese?
The ND Choice: Soft Cheese    
Although not diet fare soft cheeses tend to be a bit lower in calories and fat than hard cheeses. So opt for Brie or goat cheese over cheddar and gruyere and watch your portion sizes

Roast Beef or Ham?
The ND Choice: Roast Beef
Although roast beef can be slightly higher in calories, it has far less sodium than ham. Ham and other cured meats also contain nitrites, which you are better off without.

Dark Meat Turkey or Turkey Breast Meat?
The ND Choice: Turkey Breast meat
Ounce for ounce, white meat has less fat and fewer calories than dark meat. Either way,  you’ll want to leave the skin on the plate as it contains most of the fat. 

Champagne or a Cocktail?
The ND Choice: Champagne
Champagne clocks in at only 75 calories a glass, while cocktails can easily add up to hundreds of calories for just one drink. If you must have a cocktail, keep it simple with a vodka or gin martini to keep the calories down.

Cocoa or Eggnog?
The ND Choice: Cocoa
Almost anything is better than artery-clogging eggnog. Even if you make the cocoa with whole milk, it’s still the better option—but to minimize fat and calories, choose low-fat milk. Cocoa also contains flavonoids which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie?
The ND Choice: Pumpkin pie
Reach for a slice of pumpkin pie over pecan and you’ll save yourself over 200 calories per slice. Plus, pumpkin is packed with nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, K, E, potassium, iron, and the list goes on.