Well, I have been accused of being the food Grinch before so I may as well continue to take away the things you love. But it for your own good!
Do you have any idea how many calories are in some of the ubiquitous foods on the holiday table? It is astounding, really. And no wonder my phone rings in January (so thanks for indulging!)
Here is a list of the foods I avoid at all costs; they are just not worth it, no matter how good they taste. If you put them all together in one evening, you could be waddling home with an extra 3000 calories. Keep in mind, women should be consuming between 1800-2400 calories per day depending upon activity level. Men can have a couple hundred extra at 2000-2500 per day.
Top 10 No NO's of holiday eating:
Food calories
Fondue (1/2 cup of cheese sauce alone) 250
Pate (per oz, about one tbsp) 90
Baked brie in pastry (1/6 small wheel) 345
Eggnog (1 cup) 345
Shortbread (1.5 inch square) 60
Chocolate covered almonds (4-6) 145
Draft beer (1 pint) 180
Prepared coolers (1 bottle) 150-200
Pina colada 644
Rum and Coke 250
Gin and Tonic 190
You CAN still enjoy a party, promise. Even the corporate cocktail ones! Oh, come on, it's the holidays! We both know you are going to eat more than you should, let's just embrace it. I encourage my private clients to switch to a "nutrient per calorie" model for when they are going to cheat. That means, focusing what on the table that is loaded with nutrients but low in calories and using those to enhance your "cheats."
1. Cranberry Sauce-assuming it is homemade and not from a can (which likely means less sugar), this condiment is a great way to stretch that brownie/Nanaimo bar/cake you have on your plate. A couple of tablespoons on the side will give you a filling tart kick of phytonutrients and fibre. The hope is that you can now resist that second slice...
2. Mustard is your no cal best friend. Choose it over ketchup, cream sauce, gravy, mayo or any other dip. It also has more phytonutrients than any of them.
3. Pickles may be salty but they are virtually no cal and can satisfy that crunch need. Try to keep olives to a minimum; they do contain much more fat.
4. Your best booze bet is vodka with soda and a splash of cranberry or tonic and a squeeze of lime.
5. Lean meats are your go to choice, avoid all carbs at a party. Nosh away on those lamb chops or chicken satays but leave the phyllo purses and pastry puffs on the platter.
If you want to get to the finish line (January 1) without even more work to do, add steps each day in December. It isn't that hard to find 20 extra minutes per day to make up for all the extra eating. Up an extra couple flights of stairs in the a.m. and p.m., stand on the subway or bus, walk from the corner of the parking lot instead of wasting gas to get a spot near the door and you are done!
