Party food strategy ...
from The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N by Monica Reinagel, M.S., LD/N
Mixed Nuts or Olives?The ND Choice: Olives
Olives are high in monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, and low in calories. While nuts also contain healthy fats, they are much higher in calories and it can be hard to stop at just one small serving.
Soft or Hard Cheese?
The ND Choice: Soft Cheese
Although not diet fare, soft cheeses tend to be a bit lower in calories and fat than hard cheeses. So opt for Brie or goat cheese over cheddar and gruyere--but still watch your portion sizes
Roast Beef or Ham?
The ND Choice: Roast Beef
Although roast beef can be slightly higher in calories, it has far less sodium than ham. Ham and other cured meats also contain nitrites, which you are better off without.Champagne or a Cocktail?
The ND Choice: ChampagneChampagne clocks in at only 75 calories a glass, while cocktails can easily add up to hundreds of calories for just one drink. If you must have a cocktail, keep it simple with a vodka or gin martini to keep the calories down.
Cocoa or Eggnog?
The ND Choice: Cocoa
Almost anything is better than artery-clogging eggnog. Even if you make the cocoa with whole milk, it’s still the better option—but to minimize fat and calories, choose low-fat milk. Cocoa also contains flavonoids which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie?
The ND Choice: Pumpkin pie
Reach for a slice of pumpkin pie over pecan and you’ll save yourself over 200 calories per slice. Plus, pumpkin is packed with nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, K, E, potassium, iron, and the list goes on.
