It’s that time of year again when feasts become a centerpiece of the holidays. The traditional holiday table is laden with all sorts of high-calorie, high-carb, and high-fat foods. Sometimes people skip breakfast to ‘save themselves’ for the big meal, but that will leave you so ravenous that you’re likely to overindulge. Serve a vegetable platter before your holiday meal to curb your appetite and for the dinner, try these alternatives to the usual high-calorie sides. Swap mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower. Lower calories and get a boost of vitamin C and potassium. Swap traditional stuffing with whole grain bread rather than white and get more protein and vitamins. Swap turkey juices with broth to save calories and fat. Swap canned soup with a homemade sauce. Swap dessert with an activity. After a wonderful meal, go outside for a game or for a walk. You’ll be thankful you did when you step on the scale post-holiday.

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** Reprinted with permission by Curves International, November 2015