This holiday season, supermarket retailers may want to display fresh apples next to the pies as shoppers begin searching for party snacks.
With winter festivities right around the corner, many people face the problem of watching their weight while enjoying all the social gatherings and their fattening fare.
"People eat because the food is available," said Delia Hammock, nutrition director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Holiday parties offer a smorgasbord of food: More variety means more eating."
People are, by nature, opportunists when food is present, added Dr. Lisa Young, author of "The Portion Teller: Smartsize Your Way to Weight Loss." "There are two reasons behind eating," she said. "There are the internal cues, such as hunger, and the external cues, which are what we sense when we see and smell food."
Supermarkets can do their part by offering variety. Holiday feasters and party hosts will be searching for an assortment of foods when they hit the stores. Boiled shrimp, fresh salsa and low-fat yogurt dips for vegetables are just a few of the items retailers can offer. Also, a welcoming display of pre-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as nuts, can remind shoppers there are alternatives to deviled eggs and ribbon candy.
