Yay!!
Holiday Food Tips
By
Craig Wilson, USA Today
I hate this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced
frivolity, but because it’s the season when the food police come out
with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the
holidays without gaining 10lbs. You can’t pick up a magazine without
finding a list of holiday eating dos and don’ts.
Eliminate second helpings, high-calorie sauces and cookies made with
butter, Fill up on vegetable sticks, they say Good grief. Is your
favorite childhood memory of Christmas a carrot stick? I didn’t think
so. Isn’t mine, either. A carrot is something you left for Rudolph.
I have my own list of tips for holiday eating. I assure you, if you
follow them, you’ll be fat and happy.
About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a
holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact,
if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they are
serving rum balls.
Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single malt
scotch, it’s rare. In fact, it’s even rarer than single malt scotch.
You can’t find it any other time of the year but now. So drink up!
Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if
you’re going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It’s a treat.
Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s
Christmas!
If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of
gravy. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatos. Fill it
with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
As for mashed potatos, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.
Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people’s food for free. Lots of it. HELLO? Remember College?
Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is
the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet
table while carrying a 10lb plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of
shoes. You can’t leave them behind. You’re not going to see them
again.
Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or,
if you don’t like Mincemeat, have two apple pies and one pumpkin.
Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one
dessert? Labor Day?
Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean,
have some standards, mate.
And one final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the
party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention.
Reread tips. Start Over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just
around the corner.
By
Craig Wilson, USA Today
I hate this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced
frivolity, but because it’s the season when the food police come out
with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the
holidays without gaining 10lbs. You can’t pick up a magazine without
finding a list of holiday eating dos and don’ts.
Eliminate second helpings, high-calorie sauces and cookies made with
butter, Fill up on vegetable sticks, they say Good grief. Is your
favorite childhood memory of Christmas a carrot stick? I didn’t think
so. Isn’t mine, either. A carrot is something you left for Rudolph.
I have my own list of tips for holiday eating. I assure you, if you
follow them, you’ll be fat and happy.
About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a
holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact,
if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they are
serving rum balls.
Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single malt
scotch, it’s rare. In fact, it’s even rarer than single malt scotch.
You can’t find it any other time of the year but now. So drink up!
Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if
you’re going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It’s a treat.
Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s
Christmas!
If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of
gravy. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatos. Fill it
with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
As for mashed potatos, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.
Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people’s food for free. Lots of it. HELLO? Remember College?
Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is
the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet
table while carrying a 10lb plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of
shoes. You can’t leave them behind. You’re not going to see them
again.
Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or,
if you don’t like Mincemeat, have two apple pies and one pumpkin.
Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one
dessert? Labor Day?
Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean,
have some standards, mate.
And one final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the
party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention.
Reread tips. Start Over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just
around the corner.