The month of December is crammed with holiday dinners and parties. We all want to enjoy ourselves without feeling guilty. Some helpful and healthy tips are:

1) Choose a light beer, small glass of wine or champagne rather than a featured cocktail. After one drink switch to sparkling water with a lemon or lime.

2) Do not go hungry. Have a snack or mini-meal beforehand.

3) Choose foods that are steamed rather than fried.

4) Start with raw vegetables before tackling the cheese and crackers.

5) Do not double dip; sauces, except cocktail sauce, can be high in calories, sugar and fat content.

6) Dessert – yes you can eat it. Fruit! If you must have something sweet, please do so in moderation. Two bites go a long way.

7) Enjoy yourself, it is the holidays! Personalwebnutrition.com is always here to help get you back on track.

You should never feel deprived because you have special dietary needs. I admit it can be more challenging to satisfy my sweet tooth living without gluten, wheat, dairy and sugar. Fortunately there is a bakery in New York City called babycakes NYC specializing in refined sugar free, vegan and gluten free baked goods. I have been a loyal customer and advocate of their products for over 3 years. My favorite indulgances are: sugar-free brownies, vanilla cupcakes and chocolate banana bread.

What I love most about babycakes products is they do not use any artificial sweeteners and about 90% of their products are sweetened with agave nectar, an all natural sweetener from the cactus plant.

Other bakeries for special dietary needs worth exploring: divvies, crave bakery and stickyfingers bakery.

As a nutritional consultant I work with many clients that have challenging dietary issues. My company, www.personalwebnutrition.com, focuses on customized nutrition for special dietary needs including: gluten, wheat, dairy and soy free, pain and weight management, sports nutrition, low cholesterol, sugar and sodium. I recently read an intriguing article in the December 10, 2007 edition of Newsweek, www.newsweek.com/id/73354. The article was on fertility and diet. Is there a connection between nutrition and infertility?

According to the article, there is a correlation between what we eat and how fertile or infertile we are. The recommendations are for women with non-medical infertility, rather than medical impediments. The plan is called The Fertility Diet and the goal is to ensure a healthy pregnancy as well as motherhood and beyond. Some helpful tips are: choose slowly digested “quality” carbohydrates rich in fiber (helping to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels), eat healthy unsaturated fats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans, maintain a healthy BMI (body mass index), avoid trans fats, reduce animal protein and increase plant protein.

It is remarkable how many health related issues can be helped through diet modifications. My clients are always amazed how eliminating certain foods in their diets make them feel better.

Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday.

Sincerely,

Rachel Lerner, CNC

Founder, Personal Web Nutrition