By Dagmar Alayash, e-Management

Many of us know all too well that our food consumption will increase, calories will be ignored, and exercise regimes thrown to the wayside during the holiday season. So, what’s the best approach to take before getting engulfed in this food frenzy season?

Here we are again in the middle of the festive season; how did it arrive so soon? Does your mind go into high gear just thinking about all that needs to be done? Well, our (the e-Management Foodie Blog Team’s) minds are on holiday eating. For us, it’s about the fun and the enjoyable activities that bring family, friends, and strangers together. Holiday eating is also about making decisions on the planning and food preparation.

Dedicated to Eating…If you’re a dedicated foodie like us, or just like to eat holiday food, it’s time to relish in the seasonal activity of eating and cooking, with plenty of opportunities for enjoying good food, practicing your creativity skills in the kitchen and finding time to relax. Yes, with a little bit of planning and preparation, you’ll find time to rest too! We hope you find the following tips and hints helpful.

Keeping it healthy: Before & After…Many of us know all too well that our food consumption will increase, calories will be ignored, and exercise regimes thrown to the wayside during the holiday season. So, what’s the best approach to take before getting engulfed in this food frenzy season? One answer is to “keep it simple.” A “Before and After” approach can work wonders. A few weeks or even a few days before your anticipated seasonal eating sessions, start reducing your calorie intake, walking, running, or exercising; simply moving more helps burn calories. (We invite you to check out the American Heart Association exercise guidelines.) The idea is to make it as simple and effortless as possible and to allow you to indulge in your favorite food items when the time comes.

To Brine or Not to Brine…If you’re cooking the meal, one of the hardest steps is deciding on what to prepare. So many ways to roast a turkey, or perhaps smoke or grill one, and to brine or not to brine is the question. A note on brining here; there are no hard and fast rules as to what you can include in the brine, and they usually start with water and salt, with sugar and herbs and spices added too. It’s easy, quick and requires no special equipment other than a large container or a cooler. The turkey does not need basting and will turn out moist and juicy. Check out this popular tried and true Turkey Roasting recipe from Alton Brown from the Food Network. If you prefer to roast a regular non-brined turkey, check out this easy recipe.

On to the Sides…One excellent way to prepare vegetable side dishes is roasting them. Roasting vegetables enhances their flavors and preserves nutrients and is very easy and relatively quick. Just a splash of olive oil, kosher salt, and a couple cloves of garlic thrown in is sometimes all that is needed to transform plain vegetables into delectable side dishes. Root vegetables such as turnip, rutabaga, carrots, beets onions, and beets also roast well. If brussel sprouts aren’t one of your favorite vegetables, try adding a hint of honey, vinegar, and red pepper, and you may wonder how come they taste so good.  Check out this brussel sprouts recipe.

Wait. There’s more…Are you full yet? Leave room for desserts and savor the moment! If you really want to keep healthy during the holiday season, incorporate fruit, nuts, and whole grain items. Try these foodie websites for a variety of holiday favorites; plus healthy cooking tips incorporated into some traditional dishes: Cooking Light; Live Better America; The Food Network ; All Recipes ; and .

Sounds like Too Much Work? Other options for holiday eating include getting ready made dinners including all the trimmings from a local grocery store—an excellent value and a variety of items from which to choose. Most importantly, enjoy your holiday eating, don’t feel guilty, splurging here and there on your favorite foods is okay at this time of year. After all you have taken the “Before and After” approach….

So Are You Ready for the Holidays? What are your holiday eating tips, recommendations, and perhaps some of your favorite holiday season recipes?  We’d love to hear from you.