The holidays are here and along with them they bring joyous times to catch up with friends and family. Unfortunately, the holidays also bring about stress with changes in schedules, traveling and just trying to fit everything in. If you have diabetes, the holidays can add an additional stress with the focus on food. Stress also has the ability to increase blood sugars. Use some or all of the following tips to help defeat stress and stay healthy so you can fully enjoy this holiday season and many more to come!

1. Simplify: Be sure you don't overextend yourself during this already busy time. Avoid taking on any extra duties (hosting too many parties, offering to cook several meals, etc.).
2. Organize: Get started early on holiday shopping. If crowds at stores and malls are a stressor for you, plan to do most of your shopping online.
3. Stay Active: Physical activity can help you control your weight and blood sugar during a time when you might be eating a little more than usual while also keeping your stress at a manageable level.
4. Prepare: Plan ahead to determine how you are going to deal with all of the foods at parties you will attend. Will you allow yourself to eat one treat, and if so how will you work that into your current meal plan. It helps to check with your healthcare professional to determine ways to work in the foods you will be eating.
5. Substitute: Just because you have diabetes, doesn't mean you can't indulge in your favorite holiday treat. To make treats healthier and easier to fit into your meal plan, replace half of the sugar in a recipe with a sugar substitute or cut the sugar down without losing taste by adding cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla. You can also replace half of the fat in cakes, chocolate brownies and cookies with applesauce or baby-food prunes.
6. Stick to Your Current Schedule: Try and eat on the same schedule and follow the same meal plan as closely as possible. If you are on the go more traveling to relatives' homes or when out running errands, take along a Glucerna^® Hunger Smart^™ Shake or Bar.
7. Give Yourself a Break: If you do find yourself overindulging at a party, don't count it as a failure. Just be sure to get back on track the next day and consider increasing your physical activity to help get your blood sugar back in track.

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to control your stress and blood sugar so you can focus on enjoying the quality time you are getting to spend with those important to you.

Happy Holidays!

Sugar Cookies with Splenda^®

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup light butter
• 1 cup SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 teaspoon vinegar (white or cider)
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour or wheat flour
• 1-1/2 cups cake flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet and set aside.
2. Blend together butters, SPLENDA^® Granulated Sweetener and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer, or by hand. Blend until butter is softened. Add egg substitute, water and vinegar. Mix briefly. Add flours, salt and baking powder. Mix on low speed, until dough is formed. Do not overmix.
3. Remove dough from bowl and place on a floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into a circle and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate approx. 1 hour, allowing dough to chill.
4. Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out on a floured work surface to desired thickness, approx. 1/4 inch. Cut with cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on the back. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Info

• Serving size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 60
• Calories from Fat: 30
• Total Fat: 3g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 10mg
• Sodium: 30mg
• Total Carbs: 7g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 1g
• Protein: 1g