Healthy Living

The days are getting shorter; the first snow has fallen; and many of us have more candy than we know what to do with now that Halloween has passed.

These are sure signs that the holiday season is here (although I must say, it is a bit early for snow).

Now is the time to make crucial nutritional decisions that could make or break our waistlines. Studies show that people tend to put on weight during the holiday season, because lets face it: it’s a time to celebrate, and food and beverages are many times a part of the festivities.

So it is important that we set realistic goals – most of us can’t expect to lose 20 pounds this time of year. A more appropriate aspiration might be to not gain any weight during this time period.

Setting realistic goals is one of the keys to success. For other healthy eating tips during the holiday season, please consider attending our free Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) event on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Center at 482 Norwich Road, Plainfield. To register, call 860-889-8331, ext. 2495.

Backus Registered Dietitian Sarah Hospod will present “Eating Healthy Through the Holidays,” where she will discuss healthy, appetizing and fun menu options for holiday cooking, and even hand out some of her favorite recipes.

Trying to avoid holiday festivities altogether is never the way to go. We should all enjoy the season. But with a little moderation and a few nutritional tricks up our sleeves from an expert dietitian, we could be the life of the party - and not pay for it later.

Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator at the The William W. Backus Hospital Education Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org