Holiday survival tips

With all of the holiday celebrations, I have watched as patients struggle with multiple food temptations. This time of year, between Thanksgiving and New Year's, there is a 6 week time frame in which the average person gains almost 10 pounds. For many of us this can be linked to the gifts we receive of candy, baked goods, and alcohol. These are sent out of love and a sense of sharing. These gifts are also often a gesture of thanks or gratitude. However, they are also usually heavy in fat and/or sugar. While I am not an advocate of being rude and refusing such gifts, may I suggest the spirit of giving continue? Become a re-gifter!

Now I know that re-gifting had a bit of a smarmy connotation associated with it but that is because people don't take the time to make the re-gift personal to the new recipient. Recently I saw a note in a national women's magazine that suggested that if you receive a garden gnome and these aren't your thing...re-gift it to a friend who gardens but personalize it by adding it to a set of gardening handtools. Also being careful to remove any traces of previous giving such as tags or notes.

So how to re-gift the foods and candies that may derail your diet? On decorative plates package a bit of all the foods together, add a personal note and take them to friends and neighbors. You get the opportunity to do many things with this...1) You get to say "thanks," and 2) You no longer have tempting or diet ruining foods in the house. Another option is to repackage--such as with alcohol putting it in a cute tote or with a special ribbon.

My ultimate goal here is to reinforce to my patients that the holidays only come around once a year. They are meant for celebration and enjoyment of the company of friends and family. Please be happy and healthy in all your choices. Please have wonderful holidays and a prosperous New Year!