A Happy Healthy Chanukah

Do you really expect to lose those extra few pounds or even maintain your weight right now?

Soofganiyot, latkes, fried pastries, cookies. Family get-togethers and Chanukah parties where the food seems to multiply before your eyes.

Food plays such a central role in our holidays. Why is it so hard to resist, especially when we know that too much food does more harm than good?

One of our biggest problems is portion control. Knowing how much to put on our plates and when to say “no”. The Rambam was right on target when he said:

“ Overeating is like poison to the body. It is the main source of all illness. Most illnesses which afflict a man are caused by harmful foods or by his filling his belly and overeating, even of healthful foods.” (Hilchot De’ot 4:15)

Here’s my Chanukah strategy:

If you like soofganiyot, find the freshest, best tasting one, with your
favorite filling. Sit down and savor it slowly with a cup of coffee or tea.
Relax and enjoy it. Yes, ONE delicious-tasting soofganiyah for all of Chanukah.

Don’t make them yourself. You’ll eat more than one. And don’t order any to take home. It’s too tempting.

The same with latkes. Make them ONCE during Chanukah. Instead of serving them as a main course, serve them as a side dish with fish, poultry or a hearty soup or salad.

Use a non-stick pan and sauté them in a small amount of oil. Drain the latkes on paper towels to absorb some of the oil. Serve them with low-fat sour-cream, yogurt or applesauce.

Some people like to add color and nutrition to latkes with grated vegetables like carrots, celery root, sweet potato or zucchini. For a leaner latke, you can bake them on a cookie sheet or in muffin tins.

Personally, I prefer my latkes “straight” – thin crisp cakes of potatoes and onion, sautéed in canola oil. I enjoy eating them right from the pan, sans plate and fork. But the idea is to eat ONE or TWO, not five or ten or a plateful. Fill your dish with salad or vegetables and leave room for only a few latkes. Or use a small plate to begin with.

Rambam had a solution for overeating. One that’s as sensible today as it was in his time:

“ One should not eat until his stomach is full. Rather, he should stop when he has eaten close to three-quarters of full satisfaction.” (Hilchot De’ot 4:2)

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Chanukah!