Wednesday, November 23, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Fit For Sisters Andrew Luscutoff Columnist Keeping on track through the holidays 2016 is drawing nearer to an end, and the holiday season is here. With cold weather and short days, cel- ebration with family and friends is an appropriate way to maintain sanity and enjoy the waning days of the year. Often, the holiday season is an easy excuse for glut- tony and indulgence. This lapse of self-control leads to added pounds and waist measurements. Anyone who is attempting to keep their diet in check is faced with a difficult road. It’s not easy or feasible to exclude the foods that everyone else is enjoy- ing; however, there are some tricks to keeping oneself sat- isfied, and in check during the holiday season. Many people are unaware of the psychology of food choices. Often, people eat not because they need the nutrition or are hungry, but because of the effects food has on our brain. Even just seeing an image creates the desire to want something. This is the common “cook- ies on the table” paradox. If left in plain sight, a plate of cookies quickly vanishes as someone goes in and out of the kitchen. One leads to another, which leads to another, and soon the empty plate sits lonely on the coun- ter. Even if someone isn’t hungry, it is irresistible. In order to keep the cook- ies or sweet treats in check, keep them out of sight, make them into smaller pieces, or only leave as many out as is sensible. It is also true that serving size is directly correlated to the size of the dining ware on which the food is served. The bigger the plate, the bigger the serving size and amount eaten. This is also a paradox with package size. The big- ger the package, the more of it is likely to be eaten. This is where the big spreads at the holidays get people into trou- ble: they see the large quan- tity and unconsciously match this with a large portion size. Smaller plates, smaller sized foods, and only plat- ing modest serving trays will be a great way to avoid the stomach-splitting overeating many people experience. One of the hardest things to avoid at the holidays is the sweet treats. Whether at a holiday party, or a spread on the breakroom table, it seems like they multiply without ever slowing. One thing to consider about sweets is the initial taste, or first few bites are often the most rewarding, delivering the biggest sense of satisfaction. After the first few bites, there is diminish- ing reward. A good strategy with treats is to have a bite or two and to leave it at that. This is challenging, but ask- ing oneself if the cookie or candy will be any better than the first bite or two will re- frame the reason why you’re is eating it in the first place. The holidays are a happy time to be spent with fam- ily and friends. Don’t let dietary dilemmas sour the celebration. Moderation is key, and enjoying yourself can be done while still keep- ing to a nutritious diet. The best piece of advice might just be to focus on doing a few things really well, and not trying to do too much. Perhaps instead of two rolls with butter someone could enjoy more salad. Maybe one of each cookie isn’t as good as an idea as picking a favorite or two. Enjoy, but be mindful. This holiday season be aware of the pitfalls, and use tactical approaches to manage the sticking points. Above all, enjoy the time with family and have a happy holiday! Big River... 13 DA drops some charges against protesters By Andrew Selsky Associated Press PORTLAND (AP) — Facing a huge backlog of cases, prosecutors in Portland have dropped more serious charges against the more than 100 protesters who have been arrested in the city since Trump was elected president. The protests continued on Monday, November 14, as hundreds of high school stu- dents took to the streets, chant- ing slogans like “Peaceful Protest” and “No Trump, No KKK” as they marched across the city in the rain. Almost a week of anti- Trump protests in Portland have ranged from peace- ful to violent, when vandals smashed windows of busi- nesses and cars and caused other mayhem. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales on Monday accused them of “criminal behavior.” Police and prosecutors focused on the vandals, put- ting photos of them online and asking the public to help iden- tify them or to contribute their own photos or video of them damaging property. But nearly all of the more than 100 people who were arrested on charges such as attempted assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct will instead receive traffic citations for failing to obey a police officer, according to a joint statement from Portland police and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office. That offense is punish- able by a fine of up to $1,000. The statement said the “sheer number of arrests dur- ing protests over the last sev- eral days has been an excep- tional event.” Dine For The Cause Every Tuesday this November, 10% of the gross sales from lunch & dinner will be donated to Furry Friends! PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK The Sisters High School Choir entertained with a medley of songs from the musical “Big River” last week. Bring warmth into your home this winter HAND-FORGED FIREPLACE DOORS Come see our fi replace showroom! Come In… Relax…Enjoy! It’s stocked with everything you need for your fi replace: custom hand-forged screens; andirons; grates; and tools. Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan Open Mon. - Sat., 11:30 a.m. to Close 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! Visit us online at www.ponderosaforge.com. 541-549-9280 • Sisters Industrial Park • CCB# 87640 Located at Clearwater Gallery | 303 W. Hood Ave.