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Naughty and Nice Holiday Foods

By Elizabeth M. Ward, MS, RD

Make Nice with Naughty Holiday Foods

Sure, they taste great and they tempt you to eat too much, but it rarely pays to avoid favorite holiday foods, no matter how caloric.

"Depriving yourself of a holiday treat can backfire and make you crave the food even more, leading to overeating," says Bissex.

Choose wisely, Bissex recommends.

"Pick what to splurge on rather than mindlessly nibbling on any party food that comes your way," she says.

Knowing the calorie counts of holiday foods may stop you from reaching for another ladle of gravy, a second piece of cheesecake or another cup of egg nog.

Egg nog with alcohol, 1 cup = 360 calories

Gravy, 1/4 cup = 47 calories

Pecan pie, 1/8 of 9-inch pie = 503 calories

Pumpkin pie, 1/8 of 9-inch pie = 204 calories

Cheesecake, 1/6 of cake = 257 calories

Cheddar cheese, 1 ounce = 114 calories

Snack chips, 1 ounce = 138 calories

Sugar cookies, 2 small = 132 calories

Hershey Kisses, 9 pieces = 230 calories

Fudge, 1 ounce = 140 calories

Potato latke, 1 medium = 257 calories

Stuffing, 1/2 cup = 179 calories

Mixed nuts, 1 ounce = 175 calories

Mashed potatoes (made with milk and butter), 1 cup = 238 calories



As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD, on September 25, 2008.
SOURCES: Patricia Vasconcellos, RD, spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association. Janice Bissex, MS, RD, nutrition consultant; co-author, The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeover. Yanovski, J. New England Journal of Medicine, March 23, 2000; vol 342: pp 861-867. National Institute of Medicine. United States Department of Agriculture, on-line nutrient data base, Agricultural Research Service. © 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.