That leaves you open to eating more than you should. So it's important to take the time to savor what you're eating and not wolf it down. Adams says that while it's important to know how many calories and fat grams are in the foods you eat, most people don't consume the quantity of sweets and high-fat items every day that they do at holiday time. So don't punish yourself for eating reasonable portions of holiday fare. Plus, festive foods do have their healthy side.
Turkey is the traditional center of holiday meals.
The good news is that it's one of the leanest meats around. A 3.5-ounce portion of white meat turkey with skin has about 195 calories and 8 grams of fat. Mashed potatoes is considered one of the more indulgent dishes on the holiday table because it's loaded with fat and calories. A half-cup of the homemade version has 155 calories and 4 grams of fat. But you can reduce calories without cutting down on flavor by using broth instead of butter or margarine, as well as low-fat instead of whole milk.