Nick that holiday weight gain with the no-cook Leftover Diet

The weight creep starts in October with Halloween candies. Then continues through Thanksgiving with Aunt Edna’s special cake. And comes to a blinding finish at Christmas with sweet potatoes galore.

The Average Person, that fabled creature of song and study, only gains 1.3 pounds, according to a 2016 Cornel Food study.

But suppose you aren’t Average. Suppose you’ve always been Above Average? Here is a one-week, no-cook quickie weight loss plan that has the advantage of being effective, easy, and uses leftovers. Stick to it and you’ll once again be Above Average.

From the main course:
Turkey or turkey salad.
Chicken or chicken salad.
Beef slices.
Ham slices or ham salad.
Tuna salad.

From the relish tray:
1 jar dill pickle spears from the relish tray. NOT sweet.
2 can black olives. 1 jar green.
12 hard boiled eggs. Deviled eggs are great.
Cheese, your choice. At least a pound.
Cream cheese, plain. Four small tubs or one big one.
8 celery spears.

From the salad:
Lettuce bags, 2 to 4.
Vinegar-based salad dressing. Try Balsamic.
Tomato slices – You’ll need about 6 medium tomatoes.
Green peppers, as many as you like.
Mushrooms, as many as you like.
Avocado, as many as you like.

From the side dishes:
Forget the potatoes. NONE.
Asparagus, fresh or canned as you like.
Green beans.
Mixed vegetables.

From the bread basket.
Nothing. Throw. That. Away.
From the dessert table.
Nothing.
Buy 7 sugar-free puddings.

From the breakfast table:
A pound of cooked bacon.
Now, mix and match for every meal for seven days.
One tip: In the morning, put uncooked meats in the crock pot for a slow-cook dinner. Make turkey and tuna salad ahead. Divide into one-meal containers.

Some meal ideas:
Breakfast:
2 hard boiled eggs
2 slices tomato topped with turkey, chicken or tuna salad. You can liberally mix in bacon.

Lunch:
Ham and cheese rollups. No bread.
and/or
Salad with boiled eggs, avocado, bacon, cheese and meat.

Snack
4 big celery spears with a thinish layer of cream cheese. Top with olives. Pickles on the side. Maybe throw in something leftover from the main course, if you are using this for lunch.

A cup of mixed nuts

Dinner
Your favorite meat course. Throw in a cup of mixed veggies, green beans or asparagus, a whole can or grill a bunch. Salad if you wish.
Pudding for dessert.
You may add a cocktail with sugar free mixer.