Even James Bond takes a break over the holidays. He puts away his license to kill…and pulls out his license to graze. 007 is far from alone in this. Most guys let loose on the buffet table at one time or another over the holiday season, which probably explains why so many of our New Year’s resolutions involve gym memberships and abstaining from fried anything.

Thankfully, there are ways to enjoy festive fare without packing on the pounds. For instance:

  • Eat a healthy snack or light meal before going out so that you don’t fill up entirely on cheese log, cookies, chocolate truffles and bacon wrapped everything at the party. Try this EZ Mediterranean Salad Recipe.
  • Not all festive food is fatty. Go for veggie sticks, fruit trays, nuts and shrimp rings, for instance, over the aforementioned belly bloaters.
  • Bring your own healthy show-stopper dish. Be the man behind a spectacular holiday dish that’s sure to impress your bros and ladies, like Chef Ned Bell’s healthy Sweet & Spicy Shrimp with Coconut, Lime & Tomatoes. And maybe we can rename this recipe “Dip Another Day?” or “Her Majesty’s Secret Shrimp?”

Committing to more exercise and healthier food this New Year is a very good thing but there’s no reason to let your fitness or form slip between now and then. If Bond did that, he just might succumb to Gold Finger, one of Bond’s most popular henchmen. Or, worst of all, the Bond Girls might lose interest. The horror!