It is hard to keep your weight down during the holidays, and hard to eat healthy as well! Here are a few tips that will help. Try to choose healthier desserts, such as fruit, or take a smaller portion of those rich ones you love! (Also remember that alcohol has calories, and sweet wines and beer are higher than white wine or vodka- try having a glass of sparkling water with lemon or lime at least every drink you accept!)

You can also make some changes to your much-loved desserts, which will keep the flavor great but cut the calories and the unhealthy items as much as possible!

1) Try low-fat or non-fat yogurt in dishes that call for full-fat milk or cream. This will cut calories and also saturated fat. Buttermilk also works.

2) Try replacing half the fat or oil called for with mashed bananas or applesauce.

3) To add protein, fiber and nutrients, replace at least half of the flour with whole wheat  flour.  Or for those sensitive to wheat, use brown rice flour instead, with guar gum or xanthum gum (amounts are on the packets of these that you can buy at your health food store- usually 1/2 a tsp to a cup of flour) to replace the gluten in wheat that makes the bread or cake or muffins hold together.

4) Try using dried blueberries, cranberries, or raisin instead of chocolate chips. Or half of the amount anyway!

These tips can help you enjoy sweet foods and desserts while still keeping a modicum of watch on all those calories – plus they make the foods healthier!

Dear Lord,

In this heart of celebration

You call the spirit to flight

From the bounty of our mother earth

the blessings flow this night.

Eat and live!

Drink and live!  (or breathe)

Dance and sing, with joy we give

our thanks to you,   the Light.