Glass Snack

12 Days to a Healthy Holiday: Day #12 – The Snack Table

Inevitably during the holidays you’ll be visiting a few family members or friends and they will have a full spread of yummy treats that could derail you from your weigh loss goals. Not only could that snack table derail you from your weight loss goals, but it could also set you back a couple of weeks if you’re not careful.

Day #12 – The Snack Table: What do you do when confronted with a whole lot of treats that you just can’t resist. All you can do is make the right choices, but what are the right choices? Cheese and crackers or pita slices and hummus?

Battle #1: Scallops wrapped in bacon vs. Shrimp cocktail

Go with the shrimp everytime. A lot of people talk about the cholesterol that is in shrimp, but it pales in comparison to the fat from the bacon (which is 9 times out of 10 not cooked all the way through) and the even higher cholesterol content of the scallop. While scallops have many good qualities included a high amount of Vitamin B12, the greesy bacon wrapped on the outside offsets any nutritional benefit.

WINNER: Shrimp cockatil

Battle #2: Wine vs. Eggnog

Mmmmmm doesn’t a nice tasty cup of eggnogg sound good right about now. Nothing says holidays like a tasty, creamy treat like eggnog, but not only does it say holidays, it screams weight loss trap. One cup of eggnog contains 343 calories and up to 19g of fat. That is just under the amount of calories and fat you’ll find in a Whopper Jr. at Burger King (390 calories 21g of fat.)

Your safer bet in this case is red wine or just wine in general, but I am partial to the red. One glass of a typical red wine has just 84 calories and 0g of fat, a much better choice for the weight conscious in all of us.

WINNER: A glass of wine

Battle #3: Crackers and cheese vs. Veggies and dip

In this battle there are a lot of variables that may be out of your control. On the surface you’d probably say that veggies and dip are the better choice (because of the veggies) but a hearty sour cream based dip can set you back on your weight loss goals. So which is the better choice?

1 oz. Of a typical cheddar cheese (basically a little mini square) contains 80 calories and 7g of fat. Add to that another 2g of fat and 70 calories from the crackers and you’re looking at a scale tipping 150 calories and 9g of fat for just a little crackers and cheese.

So what about the veggies and dip. The veggies are really negligable, so have at those all you want, but before you swoop in on the dip, consider this. The typical sour cream based dip has 25 calories and 2.5g of fat in, wait for it, wait for it…1 tbsp of sour cream. While it doesn’t sound that bad, think about your typical dive into the dip bowl and you make the call.

WINNER: It’s a draw – both are not great, but if you can limit your dip intake you would be looking at a filling and not too damaging snack.

Battle #4: Peanuts vs. Almonds

The “nut bowl” is probably the most deadly thing you’ll find on a snack table. Not just because nuts are high in calories, but because you could basically stand there and eat hand fulls and hand fulls of them and never feel full.

So, if you’re standing near a dish of almonds or peanuts which is the lesser of two evils?

In this case, go with whichever one you like better. It’s basically a draw. While the almonds are slightly higher in fat content they do provide you with some very valuable protein that could tide you over so you avoid the rest of the snack table all together. Go with what you like on this one.

WINNER: Peanuts, because they are the ones I like the best

When faced with the snack table at your next holiday gathering, hopefully you’ll keep some of these things in mind and it will help you avoid the pitfalls of the holidays.

About the Author

Adam De Young
Founder of Turnupmyworkout

After losing 110lbs., I started Turnupmyworkout to share my secrets with you on how to achieve weight loss and keep it off. Through the power of the best workout music, I suggest the right mix of music for your workout intensity level. Every month, you recieve a new playlist to keep you on track to reach your weight loss goals.

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is a glass of chocolate milk a healthy snack?

i drink it to supress my apetite. is it just as bad as a cupcake?

Not as bad as a cupcake, it depends on the kind of milk you use, and if there’s sugar in the chocolate flavor or not. But certainly not as bad as a cupcake- (so bad they’re good!)

Day 2 Stained Glass Window snack