Avoiding New Year’s Party Pitfalls

Say good-bye to 2011 and ring in the New Year – healthfully.

If you are throwing a New Year’s Eve party, try some of these healthy and tasty ideas to make your party a hit.

Snacks and appetizers:
•Slice fresh vegetables and serve with low-fat dip.
•Low-fat popcorn, pretzels with mustard dip and baked tortilla chips and salsa make great snacks that can remain out for hours.
•Fat-free yogurt tastes great when mixed with salsa and spinach served with low-fat crackers.
•Mix salsa with black beans, baby white corn and cilantro with baked tortilla chips.
•Hummus on flatbread or vegetable sticks.

Desserts:
•Make apple slices and serve with warm, low-fat caramel dip.
•Fruit parfaits with fat-free yogurt.
•Fruit kabobs or angel food cake with powdered sugar and dark chocolate sauce.

And, because New Year’s Eve parties can often last several hours, guests will more than likely be drinking alcohol. If you are one of those guests, try some of these tips to help prevent a hangover on New Years Day.

Go out on a full stomach
When your stomach is full you won’t get drunk as fast, and usually you won’t drink as fast either. It has an effect on both mind and body. This also gives fuel for your body to recover from the alcohol. If going to a party that supplies food, eat a small snack before arriving.

Don’t mix alcohols
Mixing different kinds of alcohols such as beer, liquor, wine and whiskey is a disaster waiting to happen. Not only can it cause painful hangovers, but your body can reacts different to each kind of alcohol.

Stay away from sweet drinks
Sugar is a killer when it comes to drinking. The sugar can cause a spike and crash in your blood sugar level, and therefore spike the intensity and possibility of getting a hangover. Stay away from too many Rum and Cokes, Daiquiris, Margaritas or any other high sugar containing mixed drinks. Not only do these contribute to hangover symptoms, but they also contribute to an excess amount of unwanted calories!

Take vitamins before going out
Many say that our bodies get depleted of nutrients when drinking alcohol, so if you have some Vitamin C and B hanging around, take it before you go out.

Hydrate
Drink as much water or healthy fluids as possible. Drink water all day before you go out, and try to have a glass between alcoholic drinks during the night. Finish the night off with a glass of water or an electrolyte-filled drink such as Gatorade.
The less sleep you get, the harder it is for you body to recuperate. Shoot to get a bare minimum of 6 hours of sleep, preferably 8 or more hours. Resting gives your body more time to recover from the alcohol.

For more information on how to survive the upcoming celebrations, call or email me to set up an appointment!www.mindyblack.com