This time of year just stinks when it comes to my ongoing struggle with will power. It’s never an easy battle but – in addition to the daily treats brought into the office by well meaning co-workers (sisters of Satan carrying out the devil’s work on my thighs), finally “doing” lunch with all the folks that I actually enjoy seeing, but somehow managed to miss the entire year, and feasting on quarts of buttered popcorn (my favorite ‘meal’ but only when heavily slathered with real butter) while watching every sappy holiday movie that cable bestows – there are the parties.
It’s not that I’m overly popular – I’ve just been around a long time- so maybe people feel obligated to keep inviting me. And, all of these people lay out the most fabulous spreads of food ever seen. And, I don’t think any of it comes from Sam’s! They actually prepare – from scratch – incredibly scrumptious and very eye appealing food for these affairs – and there’s lots of it and it’s all different.
Fighting off guilt (guilt was winning) I decided to go Online and see what I could find about eating “bad” stuff that might actually be good for me and would be served at a party. There at www.realage.com I found some wonderful news. Cashews!! Cashews - they tell us through proven research (I’m not going to doubt such a wonderful find) - are good for us. It’s a favorite nut of mine and I can now stand next the bowl at the end of the bar and not feel at all guilty about picking the cashews out of the mixed nuts. I think there is a modicum of moderation involved but they’re good for my heart!
Cashews, we’re now told, improve something called baroreflex sensitivity – which means when blood pressure rises, cashews tell our hearts to calm down – as well as providing other cardio benefits. So choose cashews over the mini-cream puffs, mini-quiche and wheels of Brie. Of course, you could pick the carrots and pepper slices but - come on – it’s the holidays!
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