Eat, Drink & Be Merry -- on a Diet

Rolls of wrapping paper have hijacked your dining room table. Your calendar is crammed with work, school, and social events. You'd like to eat right this time of year, but who has the time? Surprise: We've got an easy-to-follow holiday diet plan for you. Stick to this menu all week and you can eat what you want come party time! Harley Pasternak, a celebrity weight-loss expert and author of The 5-Factor Diet (Meredith Books), thinks it's sad when someone refuses pie and ice cream. "What good is your health if you aren't enjoying life?" asks Pasternak, who has worked with stars like Alicia Keys, Eva Mendes, and Mandy Moore. So go ahead and enjoy eating with this menu plan -- developed with Pasternak's help, using great recipes from his book -- and lose weight while you're at it!

Focus on the Number 5
Eat five times a day. Besides three main meals, have two substantial snacks so you never get hungry.
Try to include these five components in every meal:

1. A lean protein, such as chicken, fish, egg whites.
2. Filling carbs, like sweet potatoes, beans, brown rice, or oatmeal.
3. Healthy fats (olive oil or nuts).
4. Strive for 5 grams of fiber, from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.
5. A sugar-free beverage: water, sugar-free soda, tea, coffee, or an unsweetened energy drink.
   
   Exercise five days a week. Find 25 minutes to hop on a treadmill, take Pilates or walk with a friend.