How to avoid holiday party pitfalls

How do we avoid the holiday-party pitfalls? Wellness expert Mary Beth Knight has the following tips to help us control ourselves through the New Year.

Mary Beth Knight's advice: no doubt we would all like to be as jolly as Santa throughout the holiday season, but a few not-so-great decisions during the holiday-party circuit, and we might find ourselves looking like the big guy, but not feeling like him. Holiday party buffets are notorious for bite-sized foods, and while smaller usually is better, the caloric density of the food is just as important as the size.

Cake Pops are all the rage, but really are not worth their weight. The average cake pop boasts 190 to 200 calories and 8 to 11 grams of fat, and due to its relatively miniscule size, you might get through three of them before your stomach registers the calories and slows down the intake.

Peppermint bark, also a seasonal favorite is loaded to the gills with calories as well, with one piece containing 220 calories and 12 grams of fat. If you are a big fan of the seasonal flavor of peppermint stick, the traditional candy cane containing 55 calories and zero grams of fat is a better alternative. Not only will you be saving yourself from the excess calories and fat, but the candy cane will take much longer to eat, which could prevent you from having seconds of anything else!

When it comes to alcohol stick with the low-calorie versions, avoid mixed drinks with full calorie mixers. For instance, a gin and tonic with regular tonic can add up to 250 calories. Above all, skip the frozen drinks or those with a cream base. Frozen pina coladas and margaritas can range from 300 to 500 calories, with only 1.3 ounces of Bailey’s and Cream ringing in 117 calories, which is more calories than in an entire bottle of your favorite light beer.

A few other items of note that can help curtail the calories while living it up this holiday season:

Never go to a party hungry, skipping a meal during the day to save up for the party is a sure fire way to overeat.

Eat and drink on the way to the party an apple, which is very high in fiber plus 20 ounces of a Vitamin Water ZERO-Revive will signal your brain that your stomach is full and this will help you slow down and prevent the calorie overload.

Selection of your pre-party foods is also very important; foods that are nutrient dense such as these containing more than 100 percent of your vitamin C needs and are loaded with other minerals and vitamins signals your brain that you have what you need. When your body does not have the minerals and vitamins it needs, it will signal you to continue eating until it is nutritionally satisfied. Eating empty calories, those with little nutritional value, will keep you on the hunt for more food, even in you have consumed more than enough calories.