Eat This...Not that...during the holidays!

Cocktails

Worst cocktail:

Gin and tonic (8 ounces) 240 calories 22 g sugars

Drink this instead:

Champagne 100 calories 5 g sugars

Before your raise your glass to good health, consider your own. The sad truth is that light-tasting tonic water contains as much sugar as two glazed doughnuts, making it nothing more than a glorified soda. Champagne is just as bubbly but contains only one-fourth of the sugar and half the calories.

Dip

Worst dip: Spinach and artichoke dip 300 calories 19 g fat

Eat this instead:

Salsa (1/4 cup)10 calories 0 g fat

The wrong dip can transform healthy veggies and a whole grain pita into vessels for fat and hundreds of extra calories. Avoid creamy, cheesy dips at all costs and stick to the tomato-based salsas and bruschetta, which are low calorie and offer a healthy serving of vegetables to boot.

Side Dishes

Worst side: Baked potato with butter and sour cream 400 calories14 g fat (6 g saturated)

Eat this instead:

Roasted red potatoes (1/2 cup) 100 calories 5 g fat (1 g saturated)

The difference here is in the toppings. Add bacon and cheese to the mix, and add an extra 150 calories. Another smart sides rule: Not all salads are paragons of virtue. Greens with croutons and Italian dressing pack in 140 more calories than a serving of peas with pearl onions.

Hot Drinks
Worst hot drink: White chocolate mocha (20 ounces) 660 calories 22 g fat (15 g saturated)95 g sugars

Drink this instead: Café au lait with peppermint syrup (20 ounces) 150 calories 5 g fat (3.5 g saturated) 17 g sugars

Sugary coffee concoctions are a holiday shopping staple—but the wrong one could deliver more calories than a Big Mac! Avoid mochas, lattes and cappuccinos and order a café au lait with a spurt of flavored syrup instead.

Desserts

Worst dessert:

Pecan pie à la mode 810 calories 65 g fat 55 g sugars

Eat this instead: Chocolate fondue 340 calories 10 g fat 28 g sugars

In the wide world of holiday pies, nothing is worse than a slice of pecan. Blame the filling, which is a sickly-sweet sludge of corn syrup and sugar. Fondue, in comparison, is a fun and relatively healthy way to splurge after a big meal. Angel food cake makes an ideal dipper: light, low in calories and virtually fat-free. Fruit is even better.