Muffin Tin Buffet

Inspired by Sue Poplar TOPS Headquarters General Office Manager

Lighten Up the Holidays for You and Your Guests

We all know a holiday spread can be a smorgasbord of seasonal favorites. The danger of these calorie-laden buffet-style dinners is the probability that you’ll overload your plate.

When you invite your friends to your next party, ask that everyone bring a standard-size 6-cup muffin tin. This common household item with built-in portion control is a fun and simple way for you to eat your favorites and still stay on plan. You’ll never look at your muffin tin the same way again!

STARCH—Bread-y things abound on the holiday table. A 1-oz. dinner roll or a ½ cup of mashed potatoes won’t sabotage your weight-loss efforts. They are each 1 starch exchange.

VEGETABLE—Go ahead and enjoy a dab of creamed spinach or green bean casserole.

Then, balance it out with a low-calorie vegetable choice, like salad greens or carrot sticks.

FRUIT—You might find Ambrosia or Wal-dorf salad on the buf-fet. If you love these treats, try a smidge! You could also save calories by choosing fresh fruit.

PROTEIN—If you’re in the mood to indulge at the appe-tizer table, two 1-oz. meatballs, 1 deviled egg, or 3 cocktail weiners all equal 1 protein exchange. For a lighter choice, try the roast turkey or the shrimp cocktail instead.

FAT—Enjoy healthy fats, like a small handful of unsalted nuts, or 8 black or 10 stuffed green olives, all of which are 1 fat exchange.

A sample dinner for someone on a 1,500-calorie/day plan can include:

Starch 2

Vegetable 2

Protein 2

Fat 2

See pages 35–76 in the Real Life guide for more information and full exchange lists.

Host a

These “free” exchanges dress up your holiday meal without adding a lot of extra calories. Enjoy 3 or fewer guilt-free servings per day (but stick to the listed serving size).

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1 t. reduced-fat or 1 T. fat-free mayonnaise

1 T. fat-free salad dressing1 T. honey mustard

Horseradish1½ med. pickles2 sweet bread and butter pickles

1 piece of hard candy1 c. sugar-free gelatin

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Festive Freebies

Many of our holiday standbys are high in fat and carbohydrates. Aim to enjoy your favorites in small amounts.

(Rev. 11/15) © 2015 by TOPS Club Inc.