Enjoy healthy holiday meals Published Dec. 3, 2010 By Brian Brackens 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- For many of us, the holidays are when people come together to celebrate and honor traditions that we hold dear. They are also a time for us to indulge in eating some of the best food of the year. Holiday feasting can pose challenges for those who are trying to eat healthy and watch their weight. Judy Armgardt, a registered dietitian at the Health and Wellness Center on base, said that one of the challenges of holiday eating is that people gain on average a pound per holiday. Additionally, people often fail to lose that pound, which adds up over time. Despite the potential for weight gain, Ms. Armgardt doesn't believe that people should skip the holiday foods altogether. "I'm not advocating not eating traditional foods over the holidays, because I love all of those foods too, and I'm going to enjoy them. We just need to be aware that we can make certain dishes healthier," she said. To encourage healthy eating over the holidays, Ms. Armgardt and her colleagues at the HAWC will conduct a holiday cooking class Dec. 8 from noon to 1 p.m in the Airman and Family Readiness Center kitchen. "The class will focus on trying to make the holidays a little healthier," said Ms. Armgardt. "We will compare healthy recipes to those that are traditionally higher in fat and sugar, then we'll prepare some of the recipes. I think it's important that people know that healthy foods can still taste good. The recipes that will be prepared include a caramelized onion and shrimp bruschetta, creamy mushrooms phyllo triangles and pumpkin pie pudding. The class will be open to everyone on base, up to 15 people. For more information and to enroll, call the HAWC at 246-1186.