Boomer-Living.com...enhancing the lives of Active Baby Boomers.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I usually add 2 or 3 extra lbs., but the nice thing is I don’t worry about it. I hear so many of my friends and family criticizing themselves for having that piece of pumpkin pie or a cookie with their holiday egg-nog. Talk about adding anxiety to already stressed out lives!

Here’s the way I look at it. Every year we all make the same New Year’s resolution – to get into shape or to start a regular work-out routine. And, most gyms, personal trainers and weight watchers groups enjoy a huge increase in business during January each year. So, you see, we’ve already established a habit of working out those extra few pounds that we put on during the Holidays.

Most of us have been taking care of ourselves better than we think, and it’s time to stop the worry!  During the Holidays, you can enjoy a few desserts that you normally wouldn’t eat without feeling guilty or anxious about your weight if you set some goals and establish a plan for working them off after New Years.

By setting it all up now, you’ll feel much less anxious about enjoying that one piece of Grandma’s Fudge made especially for you by your daughter-in-law! Now, I’m not suggesting that you eat ALL of the desserts on the table. Moderation is still the word of the season, but don’t deny yourself completely or feel guilty when you can’t resist a couple of Italian cookies.

Just remember that it takes a little longer to remove those pounds than it did to put them on and don’t get discouraged. By March you’ll feel so good about losing those few extra pounds that you may even decide to continue at least a portion of your new work-out for the rest of the year!

If you’re looking for some practical choices, here’s a list of the foods we are seeing more and more at health conscious parties which taste great and give our bodies the nutrients we need at the same time!

Smoked Salmon - especially the wild Alaskan version provides us with those lovely little anti-inflammatories from the Omega 3 fatty acids. It tastes good on a cracker, with a little caper and a thin slice of red onion on top or in sushi. I know most of us like it with cream cheese, and while that’s not the best way to get your salmon – everything in moderation as they say…

Peel-and-eat shrimp or sushi make great finger foods, and kids love a “make your own sushi roll” party.

Fruit & Veggie Plates are seen everywhere now and although they’re usually the only tray left after a party, you can try sprucing your platter up with a little spicy hummus for dipping. And maybe a different vegetable that’s not usually on the raw platter like: shitake mushrooms instead of buttons, Strawberries and pear slices that are dipped in dark chocolate look very festive – let your imagination go wild!

Walnuts and Almonds contain plenty of nutrients – Magnesium, Protein, Omega 3 fatty acids, and Calcium. Use sparingly. As a hostess, you could set some small bowls of these nuts around the house so people can snack on a handful off nuts instead of chips or M&M’s.

You could also make one of my favorite Capresi Salads:

Cut up 4 large juicy tomatoes and a lb. of Mozzarella Cheese. Add a bunch of chopped fresh basil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil to taste. Viola!  Healthy, Pretty and Very Tasty.

Enjoy your Holidays, eat smart and stay healthy!

Tags: moderation, new year, nutrients, personal trainers, work out routine

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•