Holiday Dinners and Festive Parties:
C.W. Post Expert Offers Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

While the holidays often mean access to an overabundance of tempting foods, that doesn’t necessarily have to make healthy eating impossible. People concerned about weight or dietary issues can go ahead and enjoy holiday treats by planning ahead and following some simple guidelines. The first thing to do, say experts, is to plan ahead.

"Be realistic!" says Dr. Barbara J. Shorter, Professor of Nutrition and director of the Undergraduate Nutrition Program at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. "You can eat smaller portions of high calorie foods, and still do alright in the long run."

The trick, she says, is to fill up on foods that satisfy your hunger, but allow yourself a small amount of the decadent foods to satisfy your sweet tooth.

"Trick your stomach," says Shorter. "Eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and whole grain products that give you lots of fiber, nutrients and water." Then it won’t take as many cookies to feel satisfied.

"There are no bad foods, only bad diets," she continues. Almost any food is compatible with good health if taken in moderation. But a bad diet is one that contains too many empty calories and not enough of the good stuff. Shorter’s tips for healthful holiday eating are not worded as DOs and DON’Ts. They are more about EATING MORE and EATING LESS:

Need more tips?

• Don’t skip meals; it will only cause you to become more hungry and eat more later.
• Have a healthy snack before parties to reduce hunger so you’re less inclined to overeat.
• Make sure to include lean meat chicken and fish; it satisfies hunger and keeps you full longer than empty calories.
• Include some healthy fats – nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish – but remember they are high-calorie foods.
• Help yourself to more green and yellow vegetables and less potatoes and pasta, but be watchful of rich sauces and gravies.
• Limit consumption of high-fat and high-calorie holiday foods like quiche, chips and dips.
• Set realistic expectations – and stick with them.
• And remember to balance the equation: calories in versus calories out. Exercise! Remember to build activity into your routine – take a walk or dance the night away. Burning those "optional" calories is not only good for your weight, it’s good for your heart and will help you to feel well while you enjoy a healthy holiday season.

For more information or to speak with Dr. Shorter, call the C.W. Post Office of Public Relations at 516-299-2332.