HOLIDAY PARTY NAVIGATION TIPS

Dr. Gaglione is the medical director of Tidewater Bariatrics in Chesapeake. She is a board certified Internal Medicine physician and a Bariatric specialist.

Welcome to the wonderful season of celebrating family and friends. It can also be a tough season for those of us who are trying to make good choices for our dietary health. I hope this month's column will give you some perspective regarding the food choices we will make in the next several weeks.

But first, let's start with last month's challenge which was to look at the calories that you are drinking. I challenged you to drink more water, skim milk, unsweetened tea, and black coffee, rather than juices, sodas, and fancy gourmet coffees. So how did you do?

Now, on to the holiday party navigation tips:

First, remember that you are going to a party for the socialization aspect of celebrating with friends, co-workers, and family, not to get a free meal. Place your emphasis on the people rather than on the food. Spend most of your time talking rather than eating.

Second, eat something healthy before you go to the party. If you go to a party “starving,” you will be less likely to make good food choices and less likely to spend your time socializing.

Third, bring something you like and that is a healthy food choice to the party. Sticking with fruits and vegetables and lean meats and away from the chips, sweets, candies, and fried foods will certainly be better for your waist line.

With the fourth tip, we are back to the challenge from last month. Watch the calories that you are drinking. Alcohol is 7 calories per gram (carbohydrates, and protein are 4 calories per gram and fat is 9 calories per gram) and its disinhibiting properties make it more difficult to make healthy food choices. If you are going to have alcohol, avoid mixed drinks, crème based drinks and choose wine and champagne as lower calorie options.

The fifth and last tip is for those who are hosting the parties. Think about the health of your guests as you prepare food or select food to serve. Ensure that you have low calorie options available. You can send a powerful message that good food does not have to be toxic to one’s health.

Now on to this month's challenge. I challenge you to think about the gifts you give this holiday. If you have a friend or family member who is suffering from diabetes or obesity, please do not give them an unhealthy food gift this year. Giving them cookies and cakes is not a treat; it is like giving an alcoholic alcohol. Give them a non-related gift or if they are ready, give them the gift of health by taking them to get help to lose weight. On behalf of myself and the staff of Tidewater Bariatrics, I wish you a wonderfully joy-filled Christmas and Hanukkah and many blessings for good health in 2009.