NORFOLK, Va. -- Packing it in at the holiday dinner table could pack on the pounds.
"The average person is gonna gain about five pounds," says Barbara Benson, RN, manager of CHKD's Healthy You program.
There are some things you can do to cut the calories in those deliciously fattening meals.
A website called hungrygirl.com lists calorie saving cooking swaps.
For pumpkin muffins, substitute calorie-free Splenda for sugar and use fat-free liquid eggs. Instead of vegetable oil, a half-cup of applesauce went in the mix. Use half a can of pumpkin puree per batch. Non-stick cooking spray coated the tins and then it was into the oven.
Instead of potatoes, try butternut squash, using light vanilla soymilk. Instead of ground beef, try soy crumbles.
"I think anytime that you can reduce the calories and still have the finished product taste good, it's a win-win situation," Benson said.
