Waist Management throughout the holidays

With Thanksgiving in just a few days, the holidays are just about in full swing. While I don't advise trying to lose weight during the holiday, making a few swaps may help you manage your waist and prevent weight gain before the new year. The tips below can be used all year round for good health.1. Start lean. Buy skinless chicken or turkey breast or lean beef and pork. Look for the words ‘round’ or loin when buying beef. Remove skin from chicken or turkey before cooking.2. Substitute ground turkey breast (or 93/7) ground turkey or meatless crumbles (soy) for ground beef in tacos, spaghetti sauce or meatloaf.3. Saute’ foods in non-stick spray or broth in place of oil, butter or margarine.4. Make at least 2-3 meals per week meatless. Enjoy beans and lentils.5. Use 2% or skim milk cheese instead of full fat (whole milk) cheese.6. Switch to 1% or skim milk in place of 2% or whole milk.7. Use reduced fat margarine, whipped butter or spray margarine when available.8. Replace sour cream with Greek plain yogurt in dips and salad dressings.9. Use reduced fat mayonnaise in place of full fat mayonnaise.10. Try salad dressing spritz in place of bottled dressings. Blend olive oil, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard together for your own dressing.11. Reduce the fat by 1/3 in cookie and cake recipes.12. Substitute jarred baby prunes, mashed bananas, applesauce or plain yogurt for the fat in baked goods (such as quick breads)13. Avoid stick margarine, use reduced fat tub margarine or whipped butter instead.14. Bake, broil, grill or boil foods instead of frying.15. Top a baked potato with salsa or plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or butter.16. Skip the every day snacks like chips, cheese cubes and boxed brownies and spend your calories on a few seasonal favorites.17. Enjoy desserts, fried food and other high fat foods in moderation, not daily.