So it's that time of year again...holiday goodies are everywhere. Gift baskets full of cheese and sausages, office parties with eggnog and deviled eggs, cocktail parties with wine spritzers and mini-quiche. Plates of cookies and boxes of candy at every turn. It's enough to sabotage anyone's good eating plan.It's inhuman to deny yourself these fat-laden treats. We all deserve to treat our tastebuds to the forbidden now and then. By not doing so, your subconscious will plot against you and before you know it you're downing double-doubles from In 'n Out and Ben and Jerry's Mooset Tracks ice cream by the quart. Only the strongest of constitutions can go completely fat-free, sugar-free and treat-free for long.
The reason for this is that our bodies are programmed to insulate themselves with fat. And to accomplish this, our tastebuds are programmed to like the way fat tastes. When you eat something with fat in it, say a butter cookie, your olfactory glands send a message to your brain that says "Mmmm, good. More please."
Ever wonder why as good as an orange can taste, it never hits the spot quite like a bite of cheesecake or a bite of mashed potatoes dripping in country gravy? Simple, an orange has zero fat, and while it does send a pleasant signal to the brain, our brains will not rank it up there with something that contains the coveted ingredient: fat.
We can train our tastebuds to love, or at least enjoy foods that are low in fat and rank high on the healthy scale. This takes time and patience, just like housebreaking a puppy. And, like you do with a puppy, you need to allow for mishaps that present themselves at certain times, like the holiday season.
The key is in the planning. You should not plan to avoid all parties, buffets and lunchrooms laden with tempting loot. Instead, head to these events with the mindset that you will taste whatever you want, but it will be in moderation. One piece of summer sausage on a toothpick. One cracker with a smathering of cheeseball on it. One cookie and one small glass of egg nog.
If you are in a restaurant situation, order something yummy but only eat half. Share with someone else or take the remainder home for another day. If you are offered a slice of pie or cake, ask for a sliver rather than a slice. If they cut you a larger piece than you wanted---which happens quite frequently---simply pass it to someone else and ask who ever is cutting to cut you a piece half that size.
Another helpful trick is to eat before you go to a party or dinner. Have a light meal or a healthy snack to curb your appetite. All the goodies won't be near as tempting if you're not hungry.
Above all, enjoy yourself and your family and friends during this wonderful time of year. Indulge in the festivities, food and drink. Just don't over do it!
