6 Holiday Party Swaps That Blast Belly Fat
Photo: Shutterstock
By Dave Zinczenko
When I tell people you can lose up to a half pound at holiday parties and other events, they look at me like I just told their kids Santa’s not real. But it’s true. In fact, just by choosing certain delicious, indulgent, but slimming party foods—the very foods you love—you could save 1,461 calories at your next event.
As we show you below, it’s not a stretch to get there (and you won’t have to wear your stretchy pants).
Check out these easy switches, and make Eat This, Not That! your authoritative guide to losing weight this holiday season—without sacrifice. Start now with our awesome 10 Easy Ways to Blast Belly Fat.
Salty & Sweet Appetizers
EAT THIS!
Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon Balls
(4 pieces) 100 calories, 4.77 g fat
NOT THAT!
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
(4 pieces) 444 calories, 14.47 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 344 calories!
You know you’re in trouble when your date shows up wrapped in bacon. (Unless you’re dating Lady Gaga.) Not only do you have a fatty cut of meat fried in its own grease, but it’s wrapped around the most sugary fruit there is. The majority of fruits—like watermelon and apples—are made up of mostly water, which keeps them super low cal. A date’s weight, on the other hand, is made up of 70 percent sugar—each contains 17 grams of the stuff. You could have 12 prosciutto-wrapped melon balls for the same caloric price. (A swap like that takes two seconds. For even easier fat-blasting tips, read our Eat This, Not That! special report on 11 Lazy Ways to Lose Weight.)
Seafood Starters
EAT THIS!
Jumbo Shrimp
(6 pieces) 94 calories, 0.5 fat
NOT THAT!
Crab Cakes
(1 piece) 300 calories, 19 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 206 calories!
Don’t get pinched! A food should always be judged by the least-healthy word in its name: in this case, “cakes.” Mayo and breadcrumbs make up the majority of this crustacean patty. Trade just one crab cake for half a dozen protein-rich shrimp and you’ll save 206 calories! Plus, protein rich appetizers (like shrimp) act as natural appetite suppressants, making it easier to step away from the party spread and resist diet no-nos as the night goes on.
Meat-Filled Finger Foods
EAT THIS!
Swedish Meatballs
(3 pieces) 240 calories, 12 g fat
NOT THAT!
Pigs in a Blanket
(3 pieces) 400 calories, 25 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 160 calories!
Don’t lay down with the pigs, roll with the meatballs. Mini hot dogs wrapped in cute little buns may look innocent enough, but they’re really just canisters of fat wearing carbohydrate jumpsuits. Choosing meatballs over pigs in a blanket will save you 160 calories. And you can lose another four pounds at the snack table by clicking to see the 6 Proven Snack Habits for Weight Loss. The new research is pretty surprising.
Hot Holiday Cocktails
DRINK THIS!
Hot Toddy
(14 fl oz) 132 calories, 0 g fat
NOT THAT!
Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps (made with whole milk)
(14 fl oz) 378 calories, 11 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 120 calories!
Have a hot toddy for a hot body. Made by combining rum, honey, lemon, hot water and a tea bag, this drink will keep you cozy without filling you up. The sweeter option, Schnapps, is basically flavored sugar mixed with alcohol, making it higher in calories and sugar than the rum in the hot toddy. Combine that with a sugary hot cocoa mix and fat-filled whole milk, and you wind up with a drink that’s the calorie equivalent of 36 Junior Mints!
Cold Holiday Cocktails
DRINK THIS!
2 Vodka Sodas with Lime
(8 fl oz) 240 calories, 0 g fat
NOT THAT!
2 Gin and Tonics with Lime
(8 fl oz) 480 calories, 0 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 240 calories!
Here comes Uncle Sal. He’s going to tell you his Kim Kardashian knock-knock joke. For the fourth time. Quick, grab a drink—but not one that’s going to blow up your booty. The key to a smart cocktail: the mixer. Tonic and soda may look the same, but soda water is calorie-free, while tonic has as many sugar calories as a cola. (And next time you hit the holiday party bar, don’t belly up—slim down with this indispensable guide to The 40 Best and Worst Beers in America.)
Popular Desserts
EAT THIS!
Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
(1/6th of of a 9” pie) 437 calories, 29.66 g fat
NOT THAT!
Pecan Pie with Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream
(1/6th of of a 9” pie) 828 calories, 60 g fat
CALORIES SAVED: 391 calories!
How do you pronounce pecan? We pronounce it pecan’t, as in, “You pecan’t have any if you want to stay lean.” There’s nothing wrong with an indulgent dessert, but why push your poor body with an extra 400 calories when you could indulge in a delicious slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream? The pecan pie is the caloric equivalent of 27 and a half ginger snaps. And the pumpkin is at least made from a vegetable; most of the pecan pie’s filling is made from corn syrup. That’s not naughty, or nice—that’s nasty.
For the latest holiday food swaps and weight-loss tips, join our Eat This, Not That! community here on Facebook—full of diet tricks, menu hacks, and easy ways to a healthier, happier you.
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