SHIRLEY UPTON
IN OTHER WORDS

The holiday eating marathon has begun, and I’m already fed up with holiday food. We celebrated Hanukah by eating potato latkes (fried potato pancakes) with apple sauce or sour cream. Like potato chips, you can’t eat just one of these cholesterol-filled goodies.

Last week, we attended three Christmas parties. Each one featured buffets loaded with delicious, artery-clogging treats. The women’s magazines are full of advice on how to eat sensibly during the holidays, but I don’t want to eat sensibly during the holidays. As my doctor knows, I really don’t want to eat sensibly at any time of the year, especially at the holidays.

Why would any sane person pass up appetizers of greasy chips and cream cheese and bacon dip and choose salsa on a celery stick? Raw carrot sticks are not my favorite at any time of the year and should be reserved for rabbits or masochists.

I must confess that I consumed fried chicken or turkey and gravy at each of these events. If I continue, I will surely grow feathers and begin to cluck. The holiday side dishes, too, are not only delicious, but laden with fat and calories. Of course, I sampled all my favorites including sweet potato souffle and dressing.

Then there are holiday desserts. A sensible eater would confine themselves to one dessert, but not this girl. Cheesecake, red velvet cake, banana pudding and others, too numerous to mention, were consumed without a trace of guilt.

Even Casey the Dog has been allowed to eat limited amounts of holiday goodies that are permissible for dogs. After all, pets are part of the family and should share in holiday eating, too. Since last Christmas, we watch Casey carefully at holiday time because last year he ate 16 Christmas cookies from a batch that were cooling on the kitchen table.

With just a week left to Christmas, friends and neighbors will soon be appearing at our door bearing gifts of baked goods and candies. Naturally, we must taste and exclaim over their efforts, thereby adding hundreds more calories to our daily intake.

I have to end this column because the doorbell just rang. I hope it’s someone with Christmas cookies.

T&D Correspondent Shirley Upton can be reached by e-mail at writer@ntinet.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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