Given what we wrote on Wednesday, today’s post may be a non-issue but take a look at our strategy anyhow. We love handy hints and we believe repetition makes a lasting impression (even when your mind is at its dullest – or especially then. That’s an old Oscar Wilde saying).
So… It’s the party season. It may be the season to be jolly, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat until it ouches (as my mother likes to say).
Before you head to a party, eat a snack of protein and whole grains so that you have energy and you don’t feel a desperate need to gorge at the hors d’oeuvres table. I know, I know. The silly emails say eat all you want, it’s the holidays for crying out loud!
Ok, but If I arrive hungry, all I can do is stare at that darn food table and wait for the person talking to me to shut up so I can beeline for cheese. It’s an attractive look too, at a party, me shoveling large slabs of brie and crackers in my face. The key operative is shoveling, and the word slab matters too. Honestly, I just wait for the over-eater sirens to go off, “Whoa, girl, save some for others”; or worse, the bell will ring and as a referee raises my arm shouting, “da Neeeew Wir-old Champeeen Holiday Eatahhh!”
I’m not trying to be the wellness police here. I’m just talking about self-respecting balance. That darn thing again. There’s SO MUCH cheer to go around that there’s no point in desperation. That’s all. Pace yourself and parcel out the joy so you can have a little bit of everything — including great conversation and laughter — without hating yourself later. Joy is looking in the mirror and being able to say, “I did my best, I was at my best.”
By the way, are there any hors d’oeuvres that DON’T have garlic in them? If so, it should be a requirement that everyone take one treat on entry to any party — even playing field.
Some examples of healthy snacks to take the edge off before you party on:
- Wheat toast with peanut butter, cottage cheese, or
- A small salad with tuna
- A slice of turkey rolled up in a whole wheat pita or romaine lettuce
- Hummus and multi-grain pita chips
- Low fat yogurt with a handful of granola
You get the picture.
For those of us who’d like to refresh our breath after the garlic, here’s a pretty dish you can add to the food table:
Cucumber Cups (Makes 48)
Ingredients
- 2 seedless cucumbers (each 9 1/2 inches long), washed
- 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- Garnish: Clover sprouts or parsley
Directions:
- Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise; trim ends. Cut each half into 3/4-inch pieces.
- Scoop out the center of each piece of cucumber with a melon baller, and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese. Garnish with clover sprouts, and serve.
Let’s know how your partying goes! Happy, Healthy Holidays.