Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- In the Tuesday, Dec. 16, "Get Fit" segment, FOX21 Morning News anchor Mike Brookbank met with Amy Loyall of Weight Watchers. Loyall gave viewers tips to keep one's waistline in check during this season of food, food and more food.

"For some of us, holiday extravaganza started at Halloween when we were finishing off our kids' candy," said Loyall. "And then moving onto the Thanksgiving celebration with the turkey and all the trimmings and then the leftovers. And here we are."

Loyall suggests not using real butter in a traditional dish, such as mashed potatoes, but instead use buttermilk, which gives the dish a creamy texture.

"And with stuffing, focus on whole grain. Either use whole wheat bread or use a mix that has whole wheat in it. It brings the fiber up," she said.

Other tips to turn traditional recipes into healthier dishes are:

1. Make classic recipes light

If hosting dinner or bringing a dish to someone else's house, consider trimming the fat from recipes. For instance:

*  Pour turkey pan drippings into a large glass bowl (or use a gravy/fat separator) and allow it to sit for five minutes before skimming off a layer of fat. Use some of the fat in the gravy, but not all

*  Slim down pies by making a light cookie crumb layer instead of a traditional pie crust

*  Leave off the top (or bottom) crust instead of using both. Or forget all about the crusts and bake the pie filling in small ramekins for mini soufflés instead

*  Use whole-wheat bread, not white, for stuffing to increase the fiber and decrease the points values (not to mention upping its vitamin and mineral profile)

2. Know portion sizes

To help size up servings, come armed with some visuals:

*  1 cup of mashed potatoes is about the size of a tennis ball or a fist

*  3 ounces of turkey equals a computer mouse or a checkbook

* 1/2 cup of green bean casserole fits into a small cupcake wrapper or an ice cream scoop

*  1/4 cup of gravy equals four  tablespoons; measure out some water in a gravy ladle to see how many tablespoons one full ladle holds

3. Comparison shop

*  Choose: White meat turkey with skin removed

*  Lose: Dark meat turkey

*  Choose: Mashed or baked sweet potatoes

*  Lose: Candied sweet potatoes

*  Choose: One-crust pumpkin

*  Lose: Double-crusted fruit pie

4. Go for the two-for-one side dish special 

It's best that not all the vegetables are drenched in butter. Opt for two spoonfuls of vegetable side dishes for each starch-based one  (and no, potatoes are not a vegetable in this case).

5. Seek satisfaction

Think about what's worth eating and what's not. You can make yourself a baked sweet potato anytime, but your aunt's sweet potato pie is a once-a-year specialty.

Click here to view the recipe for Pecan Tartlets.

Click on the movie camera icon on this page to view the segment as it aired on FOX21 Morning News.