Christmas day....

[RunnerKim]

For those of you who celebrate Christmas (or any other holiday this time of the year) and you get together with family and friends for the festivities (and food), what are your tactics for staying on a LC plan? I am really worried about the homemade cookies and fudge (and everything else) that will be in abundance with the 25+ people who I will be celebrating with. Not to mention the "oh, just have ONE" comments. Do you have any plans to overcome this or what are your thoughts on it? Also, do you have any LC/smart carb dessert recipes that I can arm myself with to bring over?

THANKS!

[logmyloss.com]

Kim, for me, the only thing that works is to go into it with an attitude that I am not going to cheat - PERIOD! When my friends say to me, "you can have just one" I explain that I am not strong enough to have just one and that it is more important for me to succeed in this than it is for me to enjoy whatever they are trying to tempt me with. With all that being said, you also brought up another good point, which is to make something you can eat. I assume you are on phase 2 since that is the thread this is in. If so, you could try bean brownies. I have not had these, and I know how it sounds, but I have heard from very reliable sources that these are really good. One recipe is as follows:
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums-phase-2/2315-christmas-day.html

1 can drained and rinsed beans (I used 1 cup of cooked beans)
4 eggs
1 cup splenda (I used a little less then 2 T of stevia)
3 Tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons of oil
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon on baking powder

Mix all the ingredients in a blender, pour into a sprayed 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

[RunnerKim]

Thanks! That recipe looks very interesting!

[RedRox]

I'm probably not the best one to ask!! I take more of the "all things in moderation" approach and I always seem to gain this time of year, esp. when we go visit my parents. The "good" news perhaps is that my Dad was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this fall, so perhaps there will be fewer christmas cookies, candied nuts and all of Mom's "special treats" around this year when we show up before New Year's. I'll still have some Christmas stollen and egg nog with rum on Christmas day though! After my heated power yoga class of course! And of course that's my P3 perspective coming through a bit too, but I've always gained some each year around this time and just tighten up the P2 belt a bit early in the year and gotten rid of it. I'm not the "spiral out of control" type personality, so to me having a few extra treats here and there on special occasions is not a gateway to going out of control, but I know for some it is. I just think you have to do what you think is best for you. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else!

[k.s.e.live]

I have made and eaten the bean brownies. I googled many south beach brownies and the one i made was similar but not identical to this one (one tip is just to use egg whites). However, I just don't like cooking with this much artificial sweetener. The brownies baked beautifully as far as texture. The flavor was bland.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=2315
Ideally, I would just rather have choc dipped apricots (as suggested in the South Beach Book) or fantastic strawberries with yogurt or something.

It is a difficult thing though. I have been to several holiday parties and have two more to go! For me, it really helps to have a couple poached eggs before I go. Also, after our Christmas party I sent all the leftover goodies with the guests! That was not too popular a move with my kids---but, i don't like them full of cookies either.

[RunnerKim]

Thanks! I googled a bunch of low carb/SBD friendly desserts today and found some killer cheesecake recipes. I'm going to experiment later tonight. I am bringing veggies and hummus and I've also made the P1 Peanut butter cookies (which were pretty good) and will bring those. I will stick to as low carb options as I can and arm myself with SBD friendly desserts so I don't feel deprived.