Two-ton Turkey Triumph

Turkey Day has past. The potatoes were mashed, the cranberries were sauced, and the bird was stuffed. Unfortunately, the bird was not the only one stuffed.

The holidays are a grand time to eat. There are so many things to tempt the senses, from grandma's home-baked cookies to the nut-covered cheese ball. A whole symphony of smells assaults our senses and draws us time and time to the kitchen; the temptation is impossible to resist. Every holiday season, this is the challenge I face. I love all of the snacks that are put out before the meal. I also love the turkey dinner, and I generally eat too much of both. Unfortunately, I have recently been introduced to age and the funny things it can do to your body as each year passes. In holidays past, I could eat beyond my full capacity and never have any ill effects -- save for a small belly ache. But now I have noticed that some of the holiday food has started to stick around my mid-section and see me through the new year. (Oh to be 16 again and to eat freely!) This realization has caused me to take pause and consider exactly how much I snack on before the meal and how much of the meal I actually eat. With this in mind, I have decided to make some small, but helpful, changes to my holiday eating habits. I hope these will keep me from over eating and keep me in my existing pant size. Instead of skipping breakfast, I will have a healthy breakfast that will give me energy to help with all the feast preparations -- but not too full to enjoy a few small snacks. When all the appetizers come out and the counter is covered with meats, cheeses, crackers, pickles, and cookies, I plan to choose the smallest plate or napkin and fill it only once. Using a small plate or napkin will ensure that I do not overindulge. When the main feast is ready and all have taken their seats, I will take a small portion of everything, so my plate is full but not over-flowing or piled three inches high. Dessert is always the hardest for me. I have several sweet teeth as opposed to the traditional sweet tooth. I love apple pie, cookies, ice cream, and all the other treats offered up during the holidays. Although I want some of everything, I will be better off taking just a small bit of apple pie. Leftovers are the saving grace of holiday meals. No need to eat it all at once. Instead, I simply will save for the next day what I didn't get to try out during the feast. Exercising this kind of restraint is hard, especially when everything looks beautiful, smells delightful and tastes heavenly. But, no matter what my eyes tell me, listening to my stomach will make me happier in the long run. For more helpful insight into portion control and healthy living, visit http://eatricious.com.

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