Northern Life in co-operation with the Sudbury Heart Health Coalition publishes a monthly column about health matters.
Oh, the holidays! A time of competing priorities, frenzied activity, celebrations and eating and eating and eating! Or so it seems sometimes.  There is no doubt that this time of year brings with it a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining healthy eating habits. We are bombarded with choices that not only tempt us, but can also undermine all our attempts at healthy eating during the rest of the year. All that great food can leave us feeling stuffed and sluggish.
So what can we do to counteract some of these realities and
take control? Dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes
Association have teamed up to bring you their list of tips for
healthy holiday living.
Use the Nutrition Facts table on packaged food products to
compare the nutrients in similar foods and make lower fat
choices. Most packaged foods in grocery stores must carry a
standardized Nutrition Facts table providing consumers with a
core list of nutrients. Visit
www.healthyeatingisinstore.ca
for more information.
Keep your eye on portion size-it's often not what, but how much
you eat, that can make the difference to overindulgence. Use
Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating to check out serving
sizes or view a Healthy Portion Guide at
www.diabetes.ca
.
Make health and road safety a priority when serving holiday
beverages. Lower fat eggnogs, "virgin" Caesars, sparkling water
and cranberry juice spritzers without the alcohol are great
choices in keeping with the season.
Use fresh zucchini or cucumber spears, broccoli flowerets,
carrot curls or endive with a low fat dip or spread such as
hummus, yogurt or fresh salsa, rather than chips and
cream-laden dips.
Serve crispy pita triangles, flatbread and homemade melba toast
as alternatives to salty, high fat snack crackers. 
When it comes to holiday entertaining, check out the
delicious recipes, chosen with health in mind, in Dietitians of
Canada's Cookbook Cook Great Food. A beautiful array of exotic
fresh fruits is a wonderful way to end a meal.
Make physical activity part of the holiday fun to provide a
balance to eating. Plan a cross-country ski afternoon or a hike
combined with a potluck with friends.
Give a gift of health that will last the whole year-an exercise
ball, an exercise book or video with an exercise mat, golf
lessons, some light weights for strength training or a
pedometer for someone who enjoys walking.
Track your activity level over the holiday season to help you
stay on track. Make these healthy living tips part of your
routine the whole year round - not just for the holidays. Small
changes over time will make the greatest impact on your health.
Dietitians of Canada is the nation-wide voice of more than
5,000 dietitians, bringing trusted information on food and
nutrition to Canadians.  The Canadian Diabetes Association
works to prevent diabetes and to improve the quality of life
for those affected, through research, education, service and
advocacy. For more information, contact the Canadian Diabetes
Association at 1-800-BANTING or
www.diabetes.ca
.
This article was written by Marianne Mantyla with the Canadian Diabetes Association for the Sudbury Heart Health Coalition.  The Sudbury Heart Health Coalition works with community partners for the purposes of promoting and supporting healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic diseases.
