THERE IS no doubt that traditional celebrations foster a feeling of goodwill toward family, friends and of course, food.

Festivities also bring back wonderful childhood memories and the feelings that come with them.

We then pass on these nostalgic feelings of excitement, anticipation, sharing and joy to the next generation.

This can be a stressful time for parents who want to get it just right, especially for their youngsters.

Eating and feasting, no doubt, are part of the celebrations. There are so many traditional dishes to enjoy and so many delights that we would not usually eat at any other time of the year.

Eid, Diwali and other festive seasons are times when the usual rules of healthy eating do not apply. These are not times to look for low-fat recipes on the Internet. These are times to simply enjoy and indulge in customs and traditions passed on from one generation to the next.

Yet most adults know that they need to keep an eye on their weight while being tempted to overindulge.

So how do you enjoy everything guiltlessly? The answer is controlled indulgence.

A little of everything is fine. You deserve to have some of everything, but you need to choose carefully since there is so much to choose from. Take time tasting and enjoying every mouthful.

When you savor every mouthful, you no longer feel the need to eat excessively.

Avoid snacking in between meals so you can eat guiltlessly at the next meal.

Part of Christmas for me is smelling the irresistible cooking aromas, feeling hungry and anticipating what is to come.

Being a traditionalist means we have turkey every year.

I tend to use Delia Smith’s Christmas cookery book as my guide to cooking Christmas lunch and it is great for anyone cooking Christmas lunch for the first time, as it is a fail-safe guide.

I personally think Mary Berry is the queen of traditional cakes.

There are many recipes on the Internet for enjoying low-fat Christmas recipes, but I think you only need to eat healthy 90 percent of the time, so birthdays and celebrations do not count.

Most people with weight management issues have problems with portion size and snacking, so keep the phrase “controlled indulgence” in mind. It has a nice ring to it. Enjoy some of everything while still being in control.

So how, indeed, do we have our cake and eat it too?

The average person gains about 2 kg during festive seasons, although in the Gulf, people may not gain as much since festivities don't last as long as they do in other countries.

On Christmas Day alone, most of us consume about 4,000 calories. So, the answer is to plan ahead. Start now and be virtuous and cut down in preparation for the festivities.

Healthy Recipe of the Week

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

A must-serve with chicken or turkey

Ingredients

• 2 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (squeezed from one orange)

• 2 tsp (10 ml) grated orange rind

Preparation

In a saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar and orange juice to the boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer for four to six minutes or until berries begin to pop.

You may puree the berries further using a blender.

Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to one month.

Ask Alva

My child is extremely overweight. I see my daughter always eating and snacking. How can I give her gentle advice, as she is only 10 years old and already looks quite chubby? Sara.

Very young children often show signs of future problems related to obesity. Very early on, children are bombarded by food commercials, and it is not uncommon to hear them utter “french fry” or “hamburger.”

Parents often soothe their scrapes and bruises with sweets and cookies. Even some well-meaning family doctors pass out sweets after those awful injections. From the get go, children learn that food is a remedy for soothing pain.

Remember that children mimic their parents, siblings and the people around them.

The answer to improving your child’s eating habits and future health is not to put them on a diet, but rather to start offering them the same healthy foods that they see you eating every day and talk to them about being healthy.

Instead of using food as a treat or reward, reward your children with a big hug.

Eating together and exercising as a family is the best way to teach your children good habits. You need to engage your daughter with an hour of fun sports activity a day.

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