Survival Tips for Healthier Holiday Dinners

To enjoy guilt-free Holidays, consider these tips:
If you’re in charge of Holiday dinner, visit ACE's Healthy Recipes for meal choices, including the Herb-roasted turkey, which comes in at 155 calories and 5 grams of fat per serving (without the skin); stuffing made with chopped veggies, chicken or turkey sausage instead of butter and fatty sausage; sweet potatoes without the candy; and pumpkin pie in place of pecan pie, which has 480 calories a slice.
If you’re worried about food choices at the dinner table, bring your own low-fat or nutritious party dish.
Don’t skip breakfast or lunch on the Holiday Day as this is a sure way to overeat at the dinner table.
Remember our bodies aren’t meant to handle 2,000-3,000 calories all at once (the typical Holiday meal packs about 3,000 calories) and will store excess calories as fat.
Control portion sizes: Draw a 12-inch dinner plate in your mind and divide it into three-inch-sized circles with each one representing one food group: proteins, vegetables and starches. The key is to stay within your circle for each food group. If you like turkey and ham, fit a little of both in one circle.
Be mindful of your alcohol intake: Mixed drinks tend to have a high amount of concentrated sugar and quickly add empty calories. One glass of wine may be reasonable, but remember alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which makes it nearly twice as fattening as carbohydrates or protein.
Be active: Go for a bike ride, a long brisk walk, a run or spend at least one hour at your local gym to burn calories before the Holiday dinner. End dinner with a family walk around the neighborhood or some other form of physical activity (e.g., a game of touch football instead of watching it on the tube).