What Do You Know About Holiday Sweets and Treats?

Palm oil has no cholesterol. But it is high in saturated fats. These fatty acids can raise your level of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which increases your risk for heart disease.

As a hard candy, candy canes are the best of the lot when it comes to fat—because they don't have any. But don't eat too many, because they do contain a lot of added sugar. Of the rest on the list, a small slice of any of them would be acceptable, if your diet permits.

It's better to cut back on both. If possible, replace the butter with a soft margarine that is low in saturated fat and has no trans fat. Keep in mind that some margarines will work better for baking than others. You could also try other table sugar or butter substitutes. These include plain apple sauce, mashed bananas, plain Greek yogurt, and mashed avocado.

If the fruitcake has a Nutrition Facts label, then definitely read it for nutrition information. But whatever the cake's fat content, you're always better off taking a small slice rather than a large one. (As for answer C, if you can't stand fruitcake, you might offer it to a friend rather than throwing it away.)

Using as little oil as possible when cooking will decrease the fat and calories of latkes. If you want them the traditional way, then limit how many you eat.

A baked doughnut will have both fewer calories and fat than a fried doughnut of the same size. Buying low-fat doughnuts from a store sounds healthier. But make sure you check the Nutrition Facts label. Low-fat doughnuts may have more added sugar or another carbohydrate instead of the fat. And they may have the same amount of calories as a regular doughnut. If you stick with regular doughnuts, eat only one. Offer other healthy choices at the party.

Creamy cocktails like egg nog and Irish coffee have both. Fruity mixed drinks like pina coladas have lots of sugar. And all alcoholic drinks still contain calories. So drink in moderation. Don't overindulge, and don't drink and drive. Also keep in mind that alcohol has 7 calories per gram compared with 4 calories per gram in carbohydrates and protein.