Wouldn't you love a holiday season where you didn't have to say no -- or wished you'd said no -- to all the delectable goodies thrust at you at parties and family get-togethers? Hey, we do too! So we scoured grocery and specialty stores, and baked and sampled, so we could bring you the best-tasting, lowest-calorie foods the season has to offer. Our guilt-free choices will allow you to eat, drink and still be merry when you step on the scale. Promise!
Cabot Vermont Cheddar Cheese 50-percent Light: "I don't know how they do it -- excellent," raved one tester. (1 ounces = 70 calories, 4.5gramsfat)
Lavosh Hawaii crackers in flavors such as Rosemary and Garlic, Peppercorn, and Ten-Grain (4 crackers = 120 calories, 3 grams fat)
Chestnuts: Save 100 calories and 15 grams fat compared with mixed nuts. (1 ounce, or 31/2 chestnuts = 69 calories, 0.6 grams fat)
Roasted chickpeas: They're as crunchy as peanuts. Toss one can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained, with 2 teaspoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, ground coriander and ground pepper. Bake in a single layer on a greased baking sheet at 400°F until golden, about 35 minutes. Serves 8. (Per serving: 51 calories, 2 grams fat)
Flora Foods Bruschetta Sun-Dried Tomato Topping: "Very flavorful. I would serve it to guests," said a tester. (2 teaspoons = 10 calories, 1.5 grams fat)
Peloponnese Eggplant Meze: A great spread for crackers. "Nice smoky taste. Better than the usual baba ghannouj," according to a tester. (2 tablespoons = 25 calories, 1.5 grams fat)
Morningstar Farms Meat-Free Buffalo Wings: 75 fewer calories and 9 grams less fat than regular buffalo wings. (5 nuggets = 200 calories, 9 grams fat)
Survival Tip: "At a party, I choose cold, fresh foods first, such as raw veggies and shrimp cocktail, over hot (usually fried) hors d'oeuvres." --Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D., Prevention fitness advisor
Silk Nog (soy eggnog): Half the calories and 17 grams less fat than regular eggnog. (1 cup = 160 calories, 2 grams fat)
Wine spritzer: Order it instead of wine and save 82 calories. (3 ounces = 100 calories, 0 grams fat)
General Foods International Coffees: Fat- and sugar-free in decadent flavors. (8 ounces = 25 calories, 0 grams fat)
Torani Sugar Free Syrups in flavors such as English Toffee, Irish Cream, and Raspberry: Add to coffee, or mix with sparkling water for a cocktail. (2 tablespoons = 0 calories, 0 grams fat)
Survival Tip: "I tell myself I'd rather feel energetic than sluggish. So when the urge strikes, I reach for my dumbbells instead of the cookie jar." --Paula George, Baltimore
Baked butternut squash: Substitute for candied yams and save 102 calories. (1/2 cup = 41 calories, 0 grams fat)
Glazed carrots: In a sauté pan, cover, and simmer 1 pound baby carrots with 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons butter and 4 teaspoons brown sugar until the carrots are tender and a syrupy glaze forms on the bottom of the pan. Roll the carrots to coat with the glaze. Serves 4. (Per serving: 72 calories, 6 grams fat)
Walnut Acres soups (Autumn Harvest, Ginger Carrot and Four Bean Chili) (1 cup = 150 calories, 1 to 2 grams fat)
StoveTop Stuffing: Use 1/4 of the margarine (you won't miss it) and save 65 calories and 5 grams fat over homemade. (1/2 cup = 130 calories, 3 grams fat)
Near East Rice Pilaf (1/2 cup = 105 calories, 0 grams fat)
Green bean casserole: In a shallow baking dish, mix one 16-ounce package frozen French-style green beans with 1 can 98-percent fat-free condensed cream of mushroom soup, 3/4 cup fat-free milk and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F until hot. Sprinkle 1 can (3 ounces) french-fried onions on top and bake for 5 minutes, or until the onions are golden. Serves 5. (Per serving: 139 calories, 7 grams fat)
Ingredients: 3/4 cup ground unblanched hazelnuts or blanched almonds, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 stick unsalted butter, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar plus more for sifting, peel of 1 orange, grated and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions: Combine the hazelnuts and flours, and set aside. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and orange peel, and beat until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients and mix very well. Cover with waxed paper and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until the dough is firm enough to handle. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper. Shape the dough into 3/4" to 1"-diameter balls and place them on the sheets. Bake on the middle rack for about 15 minutes or until the cookies are golden around the edges, rotating the sheets halfway through baking. Cool the cookies for 2 to 3 minutes on the sheets, then carefully slide them off onto a piece of waxed paper. Sift confectioners' sugar over the cookies while they are still warm, and enjoy. Makes 30 cookies.
Mint Chocolate Cookies (1 cookie = 87 calories, 4 grams fat). Courtesy of Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., Prevention weight loss advisor
Ingredients: 3 packages Andes Mints (28 mints in each), 3/4 cup trans-free margarine, 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons water, 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, two large eggs, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
Instructions: Unwrap the mints and set aside. In a saucepan, heat and mix together the margarine, sugar and water. Add the chocolate chips and stir to partially melt. Remove from the heat and continue to stir until melted. Pour into a bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Beat in the eggs at high speed. Add the remaining ingredients and beat to blend. Chill the dough for 1 hour. Line baking sheets with foil. Roll the dough into small balls (about 1" in diameter). Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Place a mint on each cookie as you remove them from the oven. Remove the cookies from the sheet. As soon as the mints have softened, spread them over the cookies. Makes 84 cookies.
Survival Tip: "I eat one hot-from-the-oven cookie with a filling glass of milk. As soon as the rest cool, I package them up." --Jennifer Becker, Tempe, Arizona
Pumpkin pie: Have it instead of pecan pie, and save 186 calories and 12 grams fat. Even better, save 250 calories and 15 grams fat if you skip the crust. (1 slice, or 1/8 pie = 316 calories, 14 grams fat)
Weight Watchers Smart Ones N.Y. Style Cheesecake with Black Cherry Swirl (1 serving = 150 calories, 5 grams fat)
Spiced pears: In a saucepan, combine 2 sliced pears, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 or 4 whole cloves, 3 or 4 slices lemon or lime and 3 to 4 cups raspberry- or cranberry-flavored diet beverage. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the pears are tender. Serve hot or cold. Serves 2. (Per serving: 35 calories, 0 grams fat)
Satsuma mandarins (40 calories, 0 grams fat each)
Sorbet: Drizzle fat-free raspberry sorbet with 1 tablespoon light chocolate syrup, or top fat-free chocolate sorbet with half of a crushed candy cane. (1 cup = 130-170 calories, 0 grams fat)
Survival Tip: "Instead of having my own dessert, I nibble my husband's. One bite cures my craving." --Wendy Hooten, Garland, Texas
Harry and David Royal Riviera Pears. To order, call toll-free 877-456-7700.
Numi Tea: It comes in a pretty wooden box, and it's perfect for relieving stress-induced cravings. Call toll-free (888) 404-6864.
Rocky Mountain Popcorn in fat-free cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla. Call 800-422-5676.
Melissa's tropical fruit baskets and fixings for healthy gourmet dinners. Call 800-588-0151.
Private Harvest bread dippers in attractive bottles and a variety of flavors (Bonus: Studies suggest that olive oil may help control your appetite). Call 800-463-0594.
Super Soynuts party tray. Call toll-free 877-769-4968.
Peet's coffee samplers and club-of-the-month. Call 800-999-2132.
Taku Smokeries smoked salmon and fresh seafood. Call 800-582-5122.
The key to enjoying a bite of everything at a holiday party is to balance it with the rest of your meals that day.
Breakfast: 1/2 banana, sliced, 1 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup 1-percent milk. This meal's high in fiber to help you last through the morning. Proof that fiber works: One study showed that oatmeal eaters ate 30 percent fewer calories at lunch than eaters of low-fiber cornflakes.
Lunch: 1 cup minestrone, Turkey Pita Sandwich (1/2 whole wheat pita, two ounces sliced, oven-roasted turkey breast, 1/2 cup arugula, two teaspoons Dijon mustard) and 1 cup sugar-free tea. Get your nutrients now so you can indulge in less-healthy fare later on -- without overindulging due to hunger.
Snack: 1 pink grapefruit. Citrus cleanses your palate and helps keep cravings at bay. By choosing pink grapefruit instead of white, you get more than 10 times the beta-carotene. (Beta carotene is a pre- cursor to vitamin A, which keeps skin smooth and eyes healthy.)
Dinner Party: 1 handful (3/4 ounces) party mix, 1 cup raw veggie sticks with 1 tablespoon French onion dip, 6 large shrimp with 2 tablespoons cocktail sauce, 1 ounce cheddar cheese cubes, 4 crackers, 3 ounces carved roast beef with 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce, 1 sugar cookie, 1 slice cherry cheesecake and 2 glasses (3.5 ounces each) red wine. Prevent mindless eating by joining conversations away from the buffet table.
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