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Holiday Eating--Food for Thought

Holiday seasons are usually filled with joy, laughter, and people enjoying each other's company. Another thing holiday seasons are known for, however, is eating.  Every year, many Americans make resolutions on New Year's Eve to join a gym and lose weight-especially the weight they gained during the Christmas season just before.
 
A study done in the United States confirmed that people gain weight during the holiday season more than at other times of the year. However, they do not gain as much as they think. The study measured people's weight during the American holiday season, which lasts from the week of Thanksgiving to New Year's. The study showed an average weight gain of .37 kilograms, much lower than the predicted amount of 2.3 kilograms.
 
Some studies say many adults gain weight during the holiday season because they like to eat tasty foods, and they are more likely to do so during the holidays. Nevertheless, there is no reason to let your holiday joy turn into your New Year's regret.

When faced with a threat, our common responses are to fight, or take flight. However, when we are faced with an overwhelming¹ variety of food, our response seems to be to eat all we can.

Experts say that when people are faced with an all-you- can-eat buffet², they eat more because they think they are getting more for their money. They often forget they are paying the same amount whether they eat just what they need, or everything they want. In fact, behavior like this puts people on the same level as laboratory³ mice. When mice are faced with many different foods to choose from, they too cannot help but overeat.

What can you do to control yourself, especially during the holiday season?  First, when you are looking over a table filled with food, choose just what you need to make a balanced meal.  Also, take your time when making your choices. This is better than immediately grabbing⁴ everything that catches your eye.

大饱口福，莫忘健康

节假日通常充满了喜悦、欢笑和人们享受彼此相伴的愉快。不过，假日里的另一个众所周知的现象就是"吃"。每年许多美国人都在新年前夕下定决心去健身房减肥-尤其要减掉他们在不久前圣诞假期中增加的体重。

美国的一项研究证实人们在假日期间增加的体重比在一年中的其它时候多。然而，他们实际增加的体重并没有自己想象中的多。这项研究测量了美国节假期间人们的体重，即从感恩节的那个星期到新年这段时间。研究显示体重平均增加了0.37公斤，远远低于预期值2.3公斤。

一些研究指出许多成人会在节假日增加体重是因为他们喜欢吃美食，而在节假日期间他们更有可能这么做。无论如何，没理由让你的假期欢乐变成新年悔恨。

我们在面对威胁时，一般反应是抵抗或者逃走。然而，当我们面对琳琅满目的食物时，我们的反应似乎是竭尽所能地吃。

专家表示人们在吃"尽兴吃"自助餐时往往会吃的比较多，因为他们认为这样他们花的钱才划算。他们常常忘了，不论他们只吃自己所需的份量，还是他们想吃什么就吃什么，付出的钱都一样多。事实上，像这样的行为把人和实验室用的老鼠放到了同一水准上。当老鼠面对各种食物可以自主选择时，它们也会忍不住吃得过多。

你该怎样做才能控制自己的食欲，尤其在节假期间呢？首先，当你看着满满一桌菜肴时，只选择构成均衡营养一餐所需的食物。同时还要慢慢地选。这比眼睛看到什么就拿什么要好得多。

1 overwhelming   

adj.势不可挡的，压倒的，无法抵抗的

参考例句：

• The flood was overwhelming and the city was soon drowned.洪水来势凶猛，很快这个城市就被淹没了。
• The act was adopted by an overwhelming majority.该法案以压倒多数通过。

2 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

3 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

4 grabbing   

v.抢先，抢占( grab的现在分词 )；（尤指匆忙地）取；攫取；（尤指自私、贪婪地）捞取

参考例句：

• The plane was grabbing for altitude. 这架飞机在抢占高度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He sprang to his feet, grabbing his keys off the coffee table. 他一跃而起，从茶几上一把抓起自己的钥匙。 来自辞典例句