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So I was thinking the other day about the holidays, the food and the few extra pounds I’ve put on – well, actually 10 pounds, but who’s really counting?
Few things are harder than keeping our snack holes closed around the holidays when there are so many wonderful foods placed before us. I got to thinking about how to make it easier to resist the temptation to eat everything that crosses our field of vision this time of the year and in the future.
For starters, you don’t want what you don’t see so I think putting blinders on at parties and other gatherings would go a long way toward the effort of curbing appetites. Blinders, like masks, should be available to anyone wanting them especially upon entering an event serving food. After all, blinders work in keeping horses focused.
Tiny plates at parties will also help keep the extra pounds off. If food is served only on cocktail plates, someone may go up for seconds, but probably not for fifths and sevenths, as that would appear gluttonous, and who wants that festive label?
Perhaps folks can wear tights or leggings to holiday parties to prevent overeating. The flimsy garment leaves nothing to the imagination and would show exactly where those 15 truffles and four glasses of eggnog landed. Perhaps knowing this ahead of time would prevent overeating.
My neighbor goes crazy at office parties eating everything in sight because she says eating is expected and no one will care. Maybe not at the party, but my neighbor may care when she’s the topic of conversation around the water cooler on Monday morning – women talk.
Having an accountability partner will help curb your eating as your partner is there to guide you in making better choices. However, if your partner is crouching down in a dark corner, feeding their own face with cupcakes and chocolate-covered Cheetos, you may need to ask for someone else to step in.
Maybe women going to parties together should all wear the same outfit. No one wants to do that because everyone knows people will talk about which one looks better. This may be a good way for the gals to watch what crosses their painted lips. After all, she’ll want to be the one looking the best in her dress.
Placing a scale at the start of a buffet line that one must step on first will probably help in watching those calories. My friend actually eats as she goes through the line, so she puts on pounds before ever getting to the end of it. She might be the exception.
Installing a mirror in one’s home similar to those that distort and bloat your figure in a fun house may keep folks in line. If that’s the last image one sees of themselves before leaving home for the party, they may be less inclined to shovel snacks in.
I believe little signs in front of treats with the number of calories will help people think twice before sampling everything. I can’t imagine how many pounds were waiting in my favorite chocolate-covered Cheetos snack.
All I’m saying is that these things may prevent people from feeling bad about the weight they’ve put on due to food gatherings.
Now I have to work double time on the treadmill for who knows how long in order to shed those few creeping Christmas calories. I’m trying to spare others the effort of having to work that hard, after the fact.
Anngee Quinones-Belian of Murphy is a staff correspondent for the Cherokee Scout. Her humor column runs every other week. Email her at anngeeq@gmail.com.