My Downsized Christmas Tree

This year I have downsized my Christmas tree.  In years past, our family put up a great bohemoth of a tree--7 1/2 foot tall six feet in diameter at the base tree  that I loved!  This year, in order to simplify and make life easier, I chose a 4 1/2 foot table top tree with white lights.  My children have always preferred the multi colored lights but for the first time in 29 years, I got to have a tree that I like.
So this is our new Tree tradition and I love it!
Blessings from our house to yours,
Lisa

Diabetic Holiday Survival Guide--More Tips

I hate feeling deprived--what about you?  So to combat that feeling, I try to find substitutions that will satisfy me instead!
        One thing typically found at parties is a cheeseball. While the cheeseball itself, may not be high carb, the crackers you use to eat the cheesball are.  So, try using cucumber slices to put your cheeseball on.
      Also, volunteer to bring something to the party and bring something that you can have with out feeling guilty or raising your blood sugar too terribly much.
  My family always has finger foods on Christmas Eve.  We typically have a cheeseball and crackers, spinach dip and bread, finger sandwiches, lil smokies rolled in bacon and baked, meatballs in maranara, dixie chili dip, and hanky pankies.  Not to mention the jam cake, stack cake, carrot cake, cookies and candy.  In order to eat my favorite--apple stack cake, I am going to have to make choices this year.  I plan on taking veggies and low fat dip instead of making the meatballs, and I am slicing cucumbers to eat with my cheeseball and the spinach dip. I also plan on making a cute little fruit Christmas tree for a natural sweet treat that I can have. See this links for pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/prajakta-gudadhe/4208070536/  This would be so festive and healthy!!
    
Cheese cubes  are another item to bring that are a better choice for the diabetic. Low fat or reduced fat cheeses would be a better option.

A pickle and olive tray would be a great item to bring to a party.  Olives and dill pickles are  great nibblers for diabetics!

   Remember to think of the choices you CAN have instead of dwelling on the thing you cannot have.
What healthy food are you preparing for holiday parties?
Low carb blessings,
Lisa