Christmas is just a week away and I am already salivating. The thought of Sarah Jones' rum cake -- ahhh the sweet, melting richness of it -- keeps sliding into my head, not to mention her sugared cookies. And my sister's strong brandied egg nog. And the Stilton cheese they import. And my brother's Thistle Hill Tarentaise cheese. Mmmmmmm. It's a slippery slope my friends. Once you officially embark on the holiday noshing, where on earth do you draw the line? Only 5 cookies and two slices of cake. Or just seven cocktails and 4 helpings of Foie Gras on cracker. I've already drawn up my game plan: I'll focus on protein through the day, and strive to save the treats for after dinner. That will last about 1/2 a day.

How to avoid the temptation of the open tins on the counter, the passed bowls of glittering delights, the trays of sweet and plenty? Here are the top ten snacks for Mommies who would like to someday rediscover their figure.

1) Shrimp is our friend. Not the fried ones my friends, just the boiled red ones. A dab of cocktail sauce is fine.

2) Crudites- amazing how if you stuff enough celery, carrots and cucumber into your mouth with all that bovine crunching you sort of lose interest in eating.

3) Ginger- chew on a bit of ginger (don't be silly - not raw! Either the kind that comes with sushi or even a bit of candied kind) and you lose your taste for sweet. 

4) WATER! Don't forget - half the time when we think we're hungry we're really just thirsty! And I forget to drink water in the winter which is when your skin really needs it.

5) Hot chocolate made with water, not milk. Surprisingly low cal, and you still feel like a kid again.

6) Dark chocolate. not my idea as I am not a fan. I know this what all the skinny chicks eat, but if it's not creamy and chocolatey and sweet then I don't want it. 

7) Aspirin. I seem to need at least two a day, given that The Bees has started her Terrible Two's early. The tantrums march on, and so does the pounding in my head.

8) Raw almonds. Yawn, so boring I know, but they do help out mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

9) Apples. Roughage is a dire necessity at the holidays.

10)  Vodka. Gaze dreamily into the distance. Whether they didn't like your gift or you ran out of food or your kid won't stop crying or your husband has the flu, somehow a vodka cocktail takes the holiday cares away, and the sweet cravings right along with it.