Don't let the holidays wreck your healthy lifestyle

The holidays can play havoc with your health regimen. Between parties, late nights, feasts and traveling, healthy habits can go right out the window. The tips below can help you manage your daily fitness routine and plan your holiday gatherings.

• 'Tis the season for spending time with family, so share your workout time with visiting relatives. Are you at different fitness levels? See what activities you can share and be active together.

• From holiday shopping, to party planning, to the kids' evening play rehearsal, you can still find some time and place to fit in physical activity. Try to make it a habit, but be flexible. Instead of sitting while watching play practice, march in place -- keep your knees high. Or try speed shopping. Lace up those sneakers and move! Before you know it your shopping will be done.

• Keep a record of your activities. Reward yourself at special milestones -- some alone time maybe?

Gaining weight is one holiday tradition that no one wants to keep. Mastering a few techniques can help you create a healthier diet without losing out on flavor. Here are some cooking and entertaining tips.

• Cut down on saturated fat in creamy dressings by mixing in some nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt.

• Use nonstick cookware so you can cook with a minimum of oil or vegetable oil spray.

• Enhance flavors with a sprinkle of vinegar or citrus juice. Add it at the last minute so the flavor is at its strongest.

• Substitute chopped vegetables for some of the bread in your dressing recipe.

• Offer vegetables in addition to traditional side dishes such as stuffing or mashed potatoes at your holiday meals.

• Don't starve yourself the day of the party so you can fill up on food that evening. If you eat normally throughout the day, you're much less likely to overeat at the party.

• Remember: The point of holiday gatherings is to celebrate, not to eat. Mingle with friends and loved ones instead of hovering around the buffet table.

• Wait 20 minutes before getting another plate of food from the buffet. You'll often find that you're no longer hungry.

• Be a health-conscious hostess. Set out bite-sized, healthy snacks such as popcorn, raisins or nuts in brandy snifters. That way your guests won't be tempted to keep reaching for the snacks -- they'll have to pick up the glass and pour a few into their hand.

• Present food in various locations to encourage activities and mingling as well as eating.

Try this recipe: Angel Food Truffle Torte. This low-fat dessert is sure to dazzle holiday guests.

Angel Food Truffle Torte

9-inch angel food cake

Filling

½ cup chocolate chips

8 ounces fat-free or light cream cheese, softened

¼ cup sifted confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch process preferred)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sauce

2 ripe passion fruit (about 1½ ounces each), ¼ cup passion fruit nectar, or ¼ cup passion fruit juice blend

1 cup marshmallow crème (4 ounces)

1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled

With long, serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 4 equal layers.

For the filling: In a small, heavy saucepan, heat the chocolate chips over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until melted, stirring constantly. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the chocolate into a medium mixing bowl. Stir confectioners; sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract into the chocolate. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth.

Place a layer of cake on a plate. Spread one third of the chocolate mixture over the layer. Repeat with the remaining cake and filling. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to four days.

For the sauce: Halve the passion fruit and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Press the pulp through a fine sieve to remove the seeds; discard the seeds. In a food processor or blender, process the pulp, nectar or juice, marshmallow crème and strawberries until smooth (except the strawberry seeds).

To serve: Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons sauce onto a dessert plate. Swirl to coat the plate. Cut the cake into 12 slices. Place one slice on the prepared plate. Repeat with the remaining sauce and cake.

Serves 12.

Nutrition values per serving: 174 calories, 2.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 33 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein, 3 mg cholesterol.

"The New American Heart Association Cookbook" (2004 Clarkson Potter)