You want to have fun and feel relaxed in all social gatherings over the holidays. That also means reaching January 1st without an extra 5-7 pounds. It can be done with the following simple strategies:
Stepping Out
Eat a light meal before holiday cocktail parties- don’t go there hungry
Make a plan before you go – what would I like to eat when I get there
Do a quick relaxation exercise to “collect” yourself
Stand away from the buffet and seek out people you enjoy
Don’t rely on alcohol to curb your appetite – it intensifies it
Scan the whole table at a buffet before plating anything
When you entertain - a dinner party menu
Crudités and bean dip or hummus; raw nuts, pesto stuffed mushrooms
Vegetable soup
Sliced roasted sweet potatoes
Steamed green beans
Boneless chicken with marsala sauce and mushrooms
1 dessert – baked thin sliced pears with cinnamon and raisins
Cocktail party
Lots of non-alcoholic beverages
Sparkling water, water with sliced lime, hot cider with spices
Wine - red, prosecco, white
Hard Cheese, grapes, crackers
Stuffed grape leaves
Spinach toasts
Mushroom Walnut Pate
Guacamole with carrots and celery
Sliced peppers, carrots, celery with a yogurt dip