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Carol's Monthly Message

Dear Friends,

Food can be beautiful, and it is a joy to break bread together with family and friends. Do not face the holidays dreading the whole food issue and being fearful about what you will eat, and how much weight you will gain. Take control and make some good choices! My new, favorite thing is to make deserts in mini “shot” glasses. Many restaurants are doing this now. You can serve chocolate mousse, carrot cake, apple crisp, or practically any dessert in these small glasses. All you have to do is make your dessert, cut it into small pieces, put each piece in a glass, and then frost or dot with ice cream or whipped cream. It is a great way to taste a wonderful sweet without overdoing it!

I am also roasting a number of our vegetables this year instead of mashing them with milk and butter! Roasted vegetables in olive oil can look and taste wonderful. 
At Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am planning to serve the soup, salad, and bread as a luncheon meal – several hours before dinner. Then the family will all go out and walk, play at the playground, or toss a football around for a few hours, while it is still light outside.

Do think about walking during the holiday season or using your treadmill. A huge mistake (and one that is easy to make) is to skip exercising during this month because of the busy-ness of the season. But it is precisely at this time of year when exercise will be of tremendous help to you, because it reduces all that stress! Just plan 10-15 minutes into your day.

Another common mistake is to approach the holidays telling ourselves that this will be the last big splurge, and a change will happen in the New Year. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking will put extra pounds on your body and will set you back one or two months from your goals in the New Year. Face these holidays with the spirit of giving, caring, and loving others, be good to yourself, and enjoy your food choices!

--Carol