Holiday Eating Tips (tongue is cheek)

Was just reading the new Berghoff's Cookbook and realizing why I loved their mashed potatoes and creamed spinach so much - butter and cream as primary ingredients of course - when I received these holiday eating tips. Eat, Drink & be Merry ...

Holiday Eating Tips

1) Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2) Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3) If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy! does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

4) Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

5) Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

6) If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

7) Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or after you get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread these tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride!"

slowisgood wrote:
6) If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

I actually had to run interference between one of my guests and the 6-8 pound sliced beef tenderloin I had on the buffet table for my holiday party for my co-workers a few weeks ago. He was the first arrival and had worked his way through one and a half to two pounds of it before anyone else had even arrived.

I diverted him with a tray opf shrimp cocktail, which he seemed to be more enamored of.

YourPalWill wrote:

slowisgood wrote:
6) If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

I actually had to run interference between one of my guests and the 6-8 pound sliced beef tenderloin I had on the buffet table for my holiday party for my co-workers a few weeks ago. He was the first arrival and had worked his way through one and a half to two pounds of it before anyone else had even arrived.

I diverted him with a tray opf shrimp cocktail, which he seemed to be more enamored of.

Was my brother at your party?