Time to shed those holiday pounds

Christmas is behind us now and New Year’s is just ahead. For many Iowans, sticking to a diet lately is almost impossible,Holiday parties, big family gatherings and couch potato sessions in front of the T-V tube translate to extra pounds for plenty of us. Tammie Collum, a nutrition instructor at the University of Northern Iowa, has a few suggestions for trying to keep trim.Collum says one thing that works is to remember your mouth can be used for talking, not just eating. She says think about conversing, not crunching. And for those upcoming New Year’s parties, Collum suggests bringing lower calorie drinks and snacks, put smaller portions on your plate, and eat less the days before and after.