Concentrate on the best things about holidays

Are you just finishing up the last of the Thanksgiving turkey?

Has your stomach recovered from holiday overindulgence?

Actually, we're in the middle of the holiday eating season, if you consider that it started with all the Halloween candy we took away from our children.

"Family members from Grandma to Junior greet temptation in the bounty from trick or treat bags, and it doesn't stop until the last bowl of chili and chips are eaten on Super Bowl Sunday in late January," said Nessie Ferguson, medical nutrition specialist and dietitian at the Nebraska Medical Center said.

With suspended good sense at mealtimes, plus holiday shopping and parties, that can translate to nutritional mayhem, Ferguson said.

But there are some simple steps you can take to achieve a nutritional diet in the midst of holiday fare high in fat and sugar.

* Before heading to a holiday or pre-game party, enjoy a balanced meal at home. It will give your family a fighting chance of saying "no thanks" to the junk food.

* Go ahead and eat some of the foods you like. The key word is "some." "Deprivation causes frustration, especially during the holidays when everyone is indulging," said Brenda Bishop of the NMC.

* Have to eat while shopping? There are healthy fast-food choices, such as grilled or baked sandwiches without cheese and sauce, a side salad with low-fat dressing instead of french fries, and drinks like low-fat chocolate milk or diet soda instead of smoothies and regular soda.

* Plan a fun physical activity at holiday get-togethers. The Ed Thomas YMCA has extended recreational swim hours during the school Christmas breaks, and other special activities are planned for high school and college students. Or, take the family for a walk under the stars on Christmas Eve. Perhaps a game of touch football before Super Bowl could launch a holiday tradition.

* Enlist the kids to help put together snacks and meals, including raw vegetables with a delicious low-fat dip instead of chips and dip, or how about apple slices and low-fat caramel dip?

* Don't be fooled by sugar-free foods that may be high in fat, calories and carbohydrates, which can affect diabetics' blood sugar and perhaps cause gastro-intestinal distress.

* Bake lighter cookies and cakes by cutting the recipe's sugar and fat by a third or using sugar substitutes like Splenda. Use applesauce instead of oil in cake recipes. Instead of high-fat sugar toppings, use a low-fat whipped topping.

* Use mulled wine or cider instead of eggnog. Or, dilute eggnog with skim milk or use low-fat or fat-free eggnog. Combine diet soda with juice, such as cranberry juice with diet ginger ale or club soda for some alcohol-free family "bubbly."

* Concentrate on maintaining weight rather than losing weight during the holidays.

Remember, the best thing about holidays is spending time with family and friends, not overindulging with holiday food and drink.