Holiday cocktail parties can result in taking in more calories than most dieters assume, but that doesn’t mean you need to skip them altogether. With a little calorie control, you can get through the holiday party season without blowing your diet.
Holiday party season is the dieter’s perfect storm. The combination of free cocktails and delicious rich foods also brings a deluge of calories—before you’re even aware of how much damage you’ve actually done. While you enjoy celebrating with friends and family, the alcohol might start to loosen your determination to keep your calories in check. Then there are the snacks, plentiful and readily available, and often salty enough to fire up your thirst, which is then quenched with yet another drink.
There’s no such thing as just one holiday party. Many businesses and families host their events and parties at restaurants and bars, which are often extended to a sumptuous dinner. So, by the time you sit down for your meal, those cocktails and appetizers could already have set you back by 1,000 calories or more.
It’s easy to lose track of how many calories you’re taking in at a party. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid socializing with business associates, friends and family, but it does help to have a strategy for handling the holiday season. Here are some tips to help you.
Snack before you go.
With so much inexpensive, high-calorie food that’s often served up at holiday parties, the last thing you want to do is to arrive with an empty stomach. Have a high protein snack late in the afternoon to tide you over until dinner.
Choose appetizers wisely.
The snacks and appetizers that are typically offered at holiday parties tend to be greasy, salty and high-calorie. And since appetizers aren’t “plated up” like a meal, it makes it more difficult to keep track of how much you’ve eaten and how many calories you’ve put away. Get acquainted with the calorie counts of typical party appetizers (see the list below). If you want to dig into the snacks, it’s best to ask your server for a small plate and portion out a few items for yourself. When your plate is empty, you’re done.
Know the calories in your drinks.
If you’re planning to drink alcohol, your lowest calorie choices are beer and wine. A bottle of light beer or glass of wine has around 100 calories—far and away a better choice than many mixed drinks (see calorie chart below). That’s because hard alcohol has over 100 calories per shot, and the mixers and add-ins (sodas, fruit juices, syrups and cream) can drive the calories sky high.
Establish a limit before you go.
Know the amount of calories you have to spend, and how you plan to spend them on your cocktails and appetizers.
Alternate your drinks.
Once you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, switch to something that’s calorie-free, like some sparkling water, iced tea or a diet soda with a twist. Some people feel that having a drink in hand makes them appear more sociable—but that doesn’t mean that the drink has to have alcohol or calories.
Focus on the fun.
If your holiday party is mainly focused on food and cocktails, it’s time to shift your attention to the quality time you’re having with your friends. Being sociable doesn’t require that you have a cocktail in your hand or a plateful of snacks in front of you.
Serving sizes and preparation techniques will vary, of course, so it’s difficult to place an exact calorie count on the items you might find at a holiday party. I used online information from several restaurant chains to come up with a range of calories—per order—for these typical appetizers.
Stuffed Mushrooms:
4 stuffed mushrooms = 550-700 calories
Gingerbread Cookies:
2 cookies = 300-400 calories
Swedish Meatballs:
4 meatballs = 300-400 calories
Spinach Dip with Tortilla or Pita chips:
8 sticks with sauce = 800–1,100 calories
Fried Calamari with Cocktail Sauce:
1 average order = 750-900 calories
Fried Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce:
8 sticks with sauce = 800-1,00 calories
Fried Zucchini:
8–12 pieces = 400–600 calories
Sliders (mini hamburgers):
2 sliders = 600 –1,000 calories
Calories in Beer, Wine and Hard Liquor
Beer: 12 oz (24 0ml) = 150 calories
Light Beer: 12 oz (240 ml) = 110 calories
Dark Beer: 12 oz (240 ml) = 170 calories
Wine (red, white): 6 oz (180 ml) = 120 calories
Hard Liquor – 80 proof: 1 shot (1.5 oz, 45 ml) = 100 calories
Hard Liquor – 100 proof: 1 shot (1.5 oz, 45 ml) = 125 calories
Calories in Mixers
Cranberry juice: 8 oz (240 ml) = 160 calories
Cream: 2 tbsp (30 ml) = 75 calories
Coffee, club soda, plain seltzer, diet soda: any amount = 0 calories
Orange juice: 8 oz (240 ml) = 120 calories
Soda (cola, ginger ale, tonic, etc.): 8 oz (240 ml) = 100 calories
Tomato juice: 8 oz (240 ml) = 60 calories
Calories in Mixed Drinks
Not all bars and restaurants pour the same size cocktail or use the exact same ingredients, but these calorie values represent typical drinks.
Bloody Mary: 10 oz (300 ml) = 180 calories
Cosmopolitan: 4 oz (120 ml) = 215 calories
Gin and tonic: 8 oz (240 ml) = 215 calories
Long Island Iced Tea: 8 oz (240 ml) = 800 calories
Mai tai: 8 oz (240 ml) = 600 calories
Manhattan: 3 oz (90 ml) = 200 calories
Margarita: 8 oz (240 ml) = 700 calories
Martini: 3 oz (90 ml) = 180 calories
Mojito: 6 oz (180 ml) = 160 calories
Mudslide: 12 oz (360 ml) = 820 calories
Piña Colada: 6 oz (180 ml) = 600 calories
White Russian: 5 oz (150 ml) = 425 calories
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The appearance and strength of your fingernails are good indicators of their overall health. Healthy-looking nails are usually strong nails.
Are your nails everything you want them to be, or are they brittle? Do they break easily or never seem to grow? If they’re not up to par, then you’re not alone. Sure, there are ways to camouflage the condition of your nails with polish, gels and even acrylics. But did you know that there are a few habits that you can develop to truly make a difference in your nails?
Eat right for strong nails
Just like our skin and hair, nail health is also tied to diet. If your nails are brittle and weak, then you want to evaluate how much protein you’re eating. Your nails are comprised of protein, so if you aren’t getting enough in your diet, it will be reflected in your nails. Protein shakes are great for adding necessary protein to your diet, as are eggs, meat, fish, beans and legumes. Be conscientious about the foods you’re eating if your nails are weak and brittle. There can be other reasons, of course, why nails might not be strong. Remember to check with your doctor if you’re concerned about your circulation or chronic problems with your fingers and nails.
Regular maintenance is the key
Trimming your nails on a regular basis will help to keep them strong. When you allow your nails to constantly grow without trimming, they tend to get rough and jagged in appearance. When this happens, they are more likely to get weak or break. Think of your nails in the same way you think about your hair. A regular trimming will help remove the weaker, damaged areas that develop at the tips, encouraging the rest of the nail to strengthen. They will look fresher and healthier as a result.
Here are a few trimming tips:
There’s a right way and a wrong way to file
Yes, something so simple as filing your nails can actually weaken them when not done properly. It’s important to select an emery board for nail filing. They are available in fine or course textures, similar to sand paper. When you file your nails, you should never file back and forth, as if you’re sawing your nails. You should always file in one direction. And do this in a gentle way. Remember, your goal is to strengthen the nail by removing the ragged areas so they don’t split or fray. When you file too hard or in a back-and-forth motion, you run the risk of damaging the fibers in your nails, which only causes them to weaken more. A little regular and gentle filing will keep your nails in top shape, and they’ll be less prone to tearing.
Moisturize and condition
Just like your hands, your nails can become dry, too, and will benefit from a good conditioning. Hand creams and lotions are great for both your skin and your nails. Remember to apply hand cream on a regular basis, especially after washing them. Take a few extra seconds to massage cream into your nails and surrounding cuticles. Ingredients like Aloe, shea butter and olive oil are great when it comes to conditioning. Keep your favorite hand cream on your nightstand and apply before you got to sleep. You’ll wake up with hydrated hands and nails that will not only look good, they’ll feel good, too. Remember, when your nails get dry, they can become brittle and more prone to breakage.
Go bare
Sure, most women love to get their nails done. But if strong nails are your goal, then it’s good to go au naturel once in a while. Think about it: filing, buffing, base coat, color, topcoat, gels, acrylic fills and more will definitely affect your nails. Give them a break. Just like with your hair when you take a break from your styling aids and heating devices, your hair will flourish. Same rule applies to your nails. Give them a break so they can stay strong and not break.
Protection is vital
When doing household chores, especially those that involve hot water or harsh chemicals, wear gloves. You want to keep your hands and nails protected from being exposed to damaging and drying chemicals at all costs. Wearing gloves when you’re washing the dishes or cleaning your house is the best way to keep nails from becoming weak and damaged due to exposure.
Everyone wants healthy-looking nails. By following these simple steps, you too will have fabulous nails in no time. Remember that what you put in and on your body is equally important. So, take care of your nails and they’ll be stronger in no time.
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This vegetarian chili recipe is easy to prepare, it will keep you full and warm, and will deliver the nutrition your body needs in one dish.
It’s that time of the year when the weather turns from hot to cold and those chilly nights call for something to keep you warm. This vegetarian chili recipe is easy to prepare, it will keep you full and warm, and will deliver the nutrition your body needs in one dish.
While there’s no meat, it’s prepared with quinoa and loaded with vegetables. The corn, chili powder, cumin, garlic and onions will add that Southwest flavor you’re looking for. So grab your slow cooker, get comfy and get ready to play your favorite movie, while the smell of this recipe will make you go OLÉ.
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups vegetable broth
½ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed if not pre-rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans
1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 green bell pepper, chopped
½ medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP chili powder
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp oregano
Toppings: chopped green onion, avocado slices
Place all ingredients in a crock pot and stir to combine. Cook on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or on low for 5 to 6 hours; check the last hour or so and add liquid as needed. Makes 6 servings.
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Try this low-carb, high-fiber and gluten-free recipe prepared with sweet potatoes and avocado.
Want a quick breakfast or a healthy appetizer for this busy time of year? Try this low-carb, high-fiber and gluten-free recipe prepared with sweet potatoes and avocado. Replace bread with sweet potatoes, and in less than 30 minutes you’ll have a dish that’ll please everybody.
Ingredients:
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Working on muscular strength and endurance can help you to achieve many goals related to health, fitness and weight loss.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your current body composition, strength training can help you to achieve your body-focused goals while improving the way you feel.
Weight loss. When your overall body weight is made up of a lot of lean muscle, your body needs more calories to sustain that muscle. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat and can help you to burn a few extra calories a day at rest. However, I believe that the excitement of having more lean muscle mass goes far beyond the calorie burn, including increased strength and reduced risk of injury.
Increased lean body mass: Strength training, when supported by protein-rich foods, can help to prevent or minimize the loss of lean body mass that is typically a by-product of dieting. Quite often when people cut their daily calories in order to lose weight, the weight lost is not always healthy or sustainable. When people are dieting without exercise, they can lose body fat in addition to healthy muscle tissue. That can play havoc with your body weight long-term.
Appearance: Strength training can favorably affect your overall body composition, resulting in a greater proportion of lean tissue relative to fat tissue. This can greatly enhance your overall appearance and reduce your dress size. Muscle takes up less space in the body per pound than fat, so having lean muscle mass can make you both look and feel great.
Tighter skin: Although strength training does not actually tighten the skin, it can make your skin look tighter. That’s especially so if you’ve lost a lot of body fat and are suffering from loose skin as a result. When you lose fat and build muscle, the appearance of loose and sagging skin can be greatly improved.
Anti-aging: Strength training can help to counteract natural age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. Losing muscle mass as we age is just a part of the aging process, in the same way that we naturally lose bone density. If you continue to strength train as you age, you can keep on top of this loss. The good news is that it’s never too late to get started. Even if you’ve lost muscle mass as part of the aging process, you can start to train and rebuild it at any age.
Strength: The training adaptations that happen in the body as a result of strength training can greatly enhance the activities of daily living, such as lifting, standing, walking and enjoying simple activities. If you love to play sports, strength training can also help to improve your overall performance.
Training for strength does not have to mean lifting weights. You can improve your strength with body weight exercises, resistance bands or objects that you have around the house, such as water bottles. Women often believe that strength training means getting heavier and looking bulky, but it’s not true, unless you want to specifically get that result.
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