Eating Healthy During the Holidays

The surgeon general is issuing a temporary food pyramid for the holiday season. Instead of the usual grains/vegetables/dairy/meats, our meals will come from candy canes/fudge/eggnog/turkey.

I'm kidding, of course, but it is important to watch what you eat year-round, not just certain times of the year. It seems like school starts in September then it's all about food - from PTA meetings to bake sales and Halloween. Then we move right into November and December holiday gatherings! It's important to be vigilant about what we eat as we move into this exciting time of the year.

With all the cocktail parties, family gatherings, and other shindigs, how does a person remain steadfast when staring down the barrel of a cheese ball that is just waiting to sabotage a diet? Fear not. Here are some tips to avoid the holiday poundage that won't leave you feeling bah humbug.

1. By planning ahead, you can put in a few extra minutes per walk and eat healthy meals on before and after a party. Don't go to a party starving! You'll grab the first schnitzel you see without thinking about it. If you're the party host, you can choose serve lighter fare and use smaller plates to help control portion sizes.

2. Mind your p's and q's! Drinkable calories still count as calories! If you're going to imbibe, be aware of what's in it. Low-cal options include diet soda (with or without a mixer), white wine, or seltzer water with a splash of lemon or lime. Watch out for high-cal counterparts: egg nog, beer, and sugary drinks like punch.

3. Pick healthier options from the menu and spend your extra calories carefully. If Auntie Martha's homemade truffle cake makes you weep with joy, don't fill your plate with Uncle Bert's so-so Bean Dip. You'll enjoy what you really like instead of what you don't care much for.

4. Incognito calories - Watch out for healthy foods swimming high-fat sauces, dips and cheeses. Good-for-you celery turns into a caloric nightmare when covered in creamy dip.

5. Watch out for sneak attacks! If your diet is going along great until a giant pile of snickerdoodles appears in the break room at work, be sure you have something available to snack on that won't undo your hard work - some almonds or a small apple will help take the edge off your appetite and curb the cookie panic.

6. Remember, your overall health is determined by your long-term choices throughout the year. The menorah's packed away and the Christmas tree has become fertilizer, but you don't want to be left with five or ten pounds of holiday memory around your middle.

Armed with these tips, you'll be ready for all your upcoming wing dings. Merry Christmas, Mazel Tov, and bon appetit!


By Sara Thompson

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Party Favor Ideas

Sending your guests home with a gift or party favor, whether it's for a children?s birthday party on up to a wedding party, is a great way of thanking them for being part of your celebration. Visit a few local party supply shops to get ideas. Even better are curio or antique shops. When you go to purchase party favors, you?ll want to choose items that are affordable yet attractive and memorable.

If you want to try out a couple of do-it-yourself options, here are some party favor ideas that will help you to craft some unique party favors at home.

There are countless party favor ideas limited only by your creativity. Ideally you?ll want the favors to be in line with the theme of the party. For example, if you are celebrating your 50th birthday party with some traditional themes, you can give gifts authentic to the decade the birthday boy or girl was born.

Giving out party favors based on a family's historical, religious or cultural background can be one of the best and most meaningful party favor ideas. Some couples distribute Bridal Sugar that consists of five pieces of wrapped sweet candy in their wedding party. The five pieces are to honor the five wedding wishes, happiness, love, virility, prosperity and loyalty.

Hand painted, decorated eggs are considered, in some cultures, to be a symbol of prosperity and fertility and are given to the guests as a traditional wedding favor. This is a very unusual party favor idea and will be a sure conversation starter. In other countries it is a tradition for couples to distribute hard shelled chocolate candies filled with marzipan fruits or almonds to the guests who have honored them by witnessing their nuptials. You can also give various types of gifts such as picture frames, bud vases, or sachets to guests of your birthday party to let them know that their presence was appreciated.

You can use tiny picture frames as guests' table card following it with a wedding photo and thank you notes. If your budget allows, you can use tiny sterling silver or traditional-looking frames to give your guests.

Also, budget permitting, a great party favor idea is to give sport, hobby or occupation-related gifts. Fountain pen sets, a box of golf balls or a small bag adorned with the favorite team logo is well received. Personalized cookbooks or boxes of recipes are great for those who enjoy cooking. You can also print a quick note on these to thank them for sharing in the party. In this way, with innovative party favor ideas, you can make your occasion a memorable event.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Cheri Brennan is an avid party planning enthusiast. She has planned many parties for friends, family and corporate settings.
To get more great articles, tips and party planning ideas click over to http://www.planyourbestparty.com! Visit today and get the Appetizer Recipe Collection as a free gift!

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Silk Flower Arrangements A Brief History

People have been recreating flowers with a myriad of materials for centuries. The earliest artificial flowers were crafted in ancient China. First using cloth, silk flowers began to catch on in the United States in the 1800s, but early efforts produced silk flower arrangements and silk florals that bore little resemblance to their living counterparts. Yet today dust resistant, realistic, low maintenance silk floral arrangements can be found if a consumer is willing to look.

Artificial flower arranging took a giant leap forward in the early 1970s with the use of plastics and high-quality synthetic fibers. As technology and manufacturing techniques improved, these materials enabled manufacturers to create silk flower arrangements with greater botanical accuracy than ever before. Though the commonly accepted term is silk flowers, it is something of a misnomer, as modern flowers are rarely made of silk.

Today's silk flower arrangements have continued to get better and more realistic. From the delicate veins running through the leaves, to the way the stem seamlessly meets blossom, today's silk flowers are often so realistic, they have to be touched to be believed. It's not uncommon to find that even the leaves feel like they have fuzz growing on them, adding that realistic finishing touch.

The creation of artificial flowers and artificial foliage is an exacting process and one that requires creativity, keen senses and a commitment to the production of quality silk floral arrangements. Today's consumers are demanding in their desire for realistic artificial flower arrangements. Dust resistance, realism, and easy to clean are just some of the required characteristics that go into creating the finest items possible.

As manufacturing processes continue to improve, you can expect the quality and consistency to continue to rise. You should also expect to find the best deals and the widest selections available online. The internet revolution continues to help to connect people with the realistic, beautiful silk flower arrangements that they seek and often at the best prices available anywhere.

Johnny Best is a freelance writer and online commerce expert covering the latest trends and emerging product segments in e-commerce. He is also the owner of several e-commerce businesses including the popular site DesignerSilkPlantsandFlowers.com where they feature Beautiful Silk Flower Arrangements, Silk Floral Arrangements and more.

By Johnny B.

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