Helpful holiday hints to stay healthy The holidays are not only synonymous with gift-giving, but also with eating. We all tend to overindulge whether we are celebrating at an office party, a friend or relative’s house, or at our own home. Holiday festivities can cause a great deal of anxiety for those who want to maintain control over their diet. With a bit of preparation and a small dose of willpower, this wonderful time of the year can be enjoyed without guilt — or unwanted weight gain, according to Lillian Sonnenberg, D.Sc., R.D., and senior manager of the nutrition center at Massachusetts General Hospital. Following are some of her tips on how to win the battle of the bulge during the holiday season. Holiday parties • Don’t arrive too hungry. Eat some fruit or crackers prior to the party. • Try to stay away from the food/buffet table while socializing. It is difficult to eat and talk at the same time, so circulating and engaging in conversation will decrease time spent eating. • Watch alcohol intake. Alcohol consumption can stimulate overeating and add empty calories. Holiday baking • Substitute yogurt or applesauce for fatty ingredients in desserts. • Offer guests lower-fat items like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dips and lean meats. Holiday exercise • Take a family walk after dinner. • Wear walking shoes and increase the pace walking from store to store. • Try standing at a table and doing knee bends while wrapping gifts. • Try not to abandon regular exercise routines. Low-fat holiday egg nog Holidays and eating go hand-in-hand. From lavish dinners to company cocktail parties to lunches on the go while shopping, high-fat foods are often the dietary staple during the holiday hustle and bustle. A few bites of cookies here and a few sips of spirits there can quickly pack on the pounds. And the temptation to overindulge can be as big as Santa’s belly! Yet, you can enjoy the holidays — and the foods that go with them — if you make a few healthy substitutions. Don’t worry. Your favorite holiday treats will taste the same: They’ll just be better for you! This low-fat, low-calorie “Diet Eggnog,” courtesy of Diet Bites (www.dietbites.com), is just what Santa and your waistline have ordered. Diet Egg Nog Makes about six 8-ounce servings 6 cups of skim milk 1 cup of Egg Beaters (or your favorite comparable product) Sweetener to taste (Use the pink stuff, the blue stuff, or the yellow stuff and, if you use the real stuff, be sure to measure carefully and remember to count those added calories!) 2 teaspoons of real vanilla extract 2 teaspoons of rum extract Ground nutmeg and cinnamon (or you can use a bit of pumpkin pie spice) Heat the milk, Egg Beaters and sweetener in the microwave on high until thickened, stirring every minute or so. (You can also use your stove if you prefer.) Remove from microwave or stovetop and stir in the remaining ingredients. Next, cover the mixture very tightly with plastic wrap and chill. Sprinkle with additional nutmeg and cinnamon if desired. You can even add a dollop of nonfat, sugar-free topping for an added treat.