FIT FOR DUTY. . .FIT FOR LIFE!

Submitted by: CDR Nancy Sebring, Clinical Research Dietitian, NIH Clinical Center

When It’s Your Turn to Entertain

As the holiday season is now in full swing, the U.S. Public Health Service Dietitian/Nutritionist Professional Advisory Committee (D/N-PAC) continues with a series of articles aimed to provide suggestions and encouragement to make it a happy and healthy one. This article provides suggestions to make your holiday entertaining events both a joyous and healthy event for all to share.

The holidays can provide many opportunities to visit with friends and family. Sometimes these social events can mean consuming excessive calories that can add up to extra pounds. But with careful planning, you can host a healthful and fun gathering!

Here are some suggestions...

Why not plan your get-together around an activity rather than around a meal? A craft-making get-together, a play, or a holiday concert are some possible choices. Children and adults will enjoy making ornaments or gingerbread houses as much as they would enjoy baking (and eating) cookies. You could also plan a get-together around an outdoor activity, especially since exercise can get short-changed during the holidays. How about an ice-skating party, a winter walk, or a caroling stroll around the neighborhood? For more recommendations on physical activity for folks of all ages, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Physical Activity Resources for Health Professionals: Recommendations” at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/health_professionals/recommendations/index.htm. VERB™, “it is what you do” (http://www.verbnow.com/), is also an excellent resource aimed at encouraging children to be more active. When you include food as part of your gathering, consider serving just simple beverages and a light snack rather than a whole meal. Whether you decide on light fare or a full meal, serve foods that fit into your healthful diet plan. Your guests will probably appreciate your choices! Use this opportunity to experiment with new healthful recipes, or try modifying old favorites. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has a great collection of recipe ideas. Check it out at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/index.htm#recipes. And, for more delicious ideas, you can search “5 A Day Recipes” at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/5aday/recipes/index.htm. Serve lots of vegetables and fruits along with just a few traditional higher-calorie holiday treats. Timing is important, so prepare foods when you are most likely to avoid sampling. In other words, cook when you are least hungry. Fix only the amount of food that you will need for this one particular occasion. If you do have leftovers, send them home with your guests, or freeze them immediately. If you must include a tempting dessert, consider choosing one that is not your particular favorite. Store it out-of-reach, or prepare it at the last minute. Better yet, ask one of your guests to bring dessert, or any other part of the meal that you would prefer not to deal with. Have them take home any leftover servings.

Make this holiday season a time of entertaining and good health!

More steps to a healthier you can be found at http://mypyramid.gov/. The “MyPyramid Plan” can help you choose the types and amounts of foods that are right for you. You can also get a quick estimate of what and how much food is right for you by simply entering your age, sex, and activity level in the “MyPyramid Plan” box located on the Web site. Clicking on the “MyPyramid Tracker” link will let you get a detailed assessment of your food intake and physical activity level. There is also special MyPyramid materials designed specifically for children aged 6 to 11 and lots of great suggestions for healthy family meal planning and activities can be found at “MyPyramidforKids” (http://mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html).

Healthy lifestyle resources evaluated by the D/N-PAC and highlighted in this article will also be accessible from the USPHS Dietitians and Nutritionists Category Web site http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~phsnutr/phsnutr.html. If you have related topics of interest that you would like to learn more about in future articles, contact CDR Jean Makie, Chair, D/N-PAC, at makiej@cder.fda.gov.

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