We’re not saying you can’t enjoy some eggnog at your holiday office party – or even a few nibbles of a traditional holiday gingerbread house, Christmas pudding or bûche de noel. But if you’re taking in extra calories, you have to find ways to burn them off.  We know the weather doesn’t always cooperate this time of year, but there are plenty of ways to exercise indoors.

We hope you enjoy all of the wonderful things the holiday season has to offer – from spending time with friends and family to volunteering in your local community.  And if you’re keeping an eye on what you eat and drink this holiday season, our industry provides myriad beverage choices in a wide range of calories, all of which can be part of a healthy diet. And like Sip & Savor mentioned yesterday, our industry is voluntarily putting calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce, making it easier for consumers to make informed choices about the beverages that are best for themselves and their families. Clear on Calories is just another tool to help you out this holiday season and throughout the year.

The good news is that you never have to sacrifice taste to enjoy America’s non-alcoholic beverages. Our member companies provide many flavorful low- and no- calorie options to keep you refreshed and satisfied whether you’re just watching your holiday weight or counting calories all year round. Between 1998 and 2008, the beverage industry has cut the total amount of beverage calories brought to market by 21 percent. This significant reduction is due in part to the introduction of more low- and no- calorie options and smaller portions.

Additionally, the beverage industry has come together through a voluntary commitment to put calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce. By putting calorie information right up front on our packaging, our industry is making it easier for consumers to make informed choices about the beverages that are best for themselves and their families.

So, keep enjoying the holiday season – and your favorite beverages!

To that end, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will kick off later this week.  The Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the District of Columbia. It is a beautiful time of year to take a stroll around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park – don’t let the crowds deter you.  It’s a great way to spend time outdoors, soak up some vitamin D from the sunshine and burn some calories.  To make the most of your cherry blossom viewing experience, check out some tips from Fodor’s. And if crowds just aren’t your thing, make your way over to the 412 acre U.S. National Arboretum.  With more than 2,000 ornamental cherry trees, you’re sure to see something of beauty.  Add to that the great walking trails, an opportunity to view the National Capitol Columns and plenty of space for a family picnic and you’re sure to have a great time!

In fact, the beverage industry has cut the total amount of beverage calories it has brought to market by 21 percent from 1998 to 2008.  And this significant reduction is due in part to the introduction of more low- and no-calorie and smaller-portion beverage choices.

The beverage industry has also come together through a voluntary commitment to make the calories in their products even more clear and consumer-friendly by putting calorie information at consumers’ fingertips at every point of purchase, including containers, company-controlled vending machines and fountain machines.  And in our nation’s schools, we have changed the beverage landscape, cutting beverage by a dramatic 88 percent with our School Beverage Guidelines.  These guidelines removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with more lower-calorie, smaller-portion choices.

The bold actions will have a meaningful and lasting impact – and we think this will help us all make the decisions that are right for us.  For more information on what we’re doing as an industry, please check in with us on Facebook and Twitter.

We at Sip & Savor have taken some time to share tips about nutrition, consumer education and the importance of physical activity.  But, after reading this, we wanted to make sure to encourage our readers to get up and get active.  Whether it’s taking a walk in the evening, going for a jog in the morning or even some fun fall activities like picking apples – be sure to get out there and increase your steps!  And don’t forget to hydrate before, during and after you exercise.

Remember, it’s balancing the calories that we consume with regular physical activity, like walking, that is essential to maintaining a healthy weight.

Here’s a quick fitness quiz about the recommended physical activity guidelines (you can find the answers below – but no cheating!):

1. How much exercise should adults get per week?
A. 60 minutes at least three days a week
B. 30 minutes at least five days a week
C. 20 minutes at least seven days a week

2. How much exercise should children and adolescents get per week?
A. 60 minutes daily
B. 90 minutes at least four days a week
C. 30 minutes at least six days a week

For more info on the summer challenge, check out this “Let’s Move!” blog by figure skating champion Michelle Kwan, a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

We at Sip & Savor wish you luck and encourage you to remember that the keys to a healthier life are moderation and balancing calories consumed with those burned through physical activity and exercise.

And the fitness guideline quiz answers:
1. B.  30 minutes at least five days a week for adults
2. A.  60 minutes daily for children and adolescents

Sietsema is no stranger to large portions, bread baskets, desserts, a bevy of titillating cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.  But he stays fit by taking small steps to stay active throughout the day, eating healthy snacks and low- and no-calorie beverages in preparation for his big nights out on the town.  He’s a good example for all of us, and a reminder that there is room in our lives for delicious foods and beverages – we just need to be sure they’re being consumed as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

To watch Sietsema’s latest “Dining Out” video and see his tips for yourself, click here.  Bon appétit!

Our industry appreciates AHA’s efforts to help educate Americans about overall health. In fact, that’s why we developed School Beverage Guidelines. These calorie-based guidelines are part of a broader effort to teach our children about the importance of living a balanced lifestyle. We recognize that schools are unique environments where parents want a little more control over the food and beverage options available to their kids. That’s why the guidelines remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and provide more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion options.

After all, what it all comes down to is calorie balance – that is, balancing the calories you eat with the calories you burn off. So as we think about ways to encourage Americans to live balanced lifestyles, the focus needs to come back to calories.

Now, there is no doubt that regular soft drinks, like most foods, are a source of calories. But, despite the suggestion of some critics, they are not the #1 source of calories in the American diet. In fact, according to an analysis of the food supply by the National Cancer Institute, the combined category of sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened waters contribute only about 5.5 percent of the calories in the American diet. What does that mean? That 95 percent of total calories come from other foods and beverages.

We also know that soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are not a unique risk factor for obesity or other negative health outcomes. So, at the end of the day, you can be a healthy person and enjoy soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages in moderation. What matters most is balancing the calories from the foods and beverages we eat and drink with regular physical activity. These are the keys to living a balanced, healthy lifestyle – something our industry fully supports. We encourage consumers to make appropriate choices by providing easy access to calorie and nutrition information; we promote –and – support physical activity initiatives; and we’re constantly innovating to meet consumer demand. So whatever your preference – from full-calorie to no- and low-calorie – we’ve got something to keep you hydrated.

But as you savor a sweet moment of indulgence at your favorite doughnut shop, ask those around you what doughnuts and the Salvation Army have in common. No clue? Well, here’s your history lesson for the day.

In 1938, during the Great Depression, National Doughnut Day started as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. It was their goal to help the needy, while also honoring the Salvation Army “Lassies.” During World War II, “Lassies” were the female volunteers who made home-cooked foods – including doughnuts, which were cooked in oil inside metal helmets – for the soldiers behind the front lines. Another interesting fact: American infantrymen were often called “doughboys.” You can learn more about National Doughnut Day by checking out the video on the Salvation Army’s Web site.

So whatever you call it – doughnut, donut, fritole, beignet or something else – grab a free or discounted one at your favorite doughnut establishment and remember the soldiers who fought for our freedom – and the women who made sure they were well-fed.

Now in its 16th year, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is designed to “challenge Americans to get moving for health and to get active and fit.” There are lots of ways to do just that. In fact, late last year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued “2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.” These guidelines describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer health benefits to Americans. And the Department even has a number of fact sheets and tool kits to help you be more active.

Not only does physical activity help you balance the calories you consume – something that is essential to maintaining a healthy weight and overall good health – but you may just find that once you start, you actually enjoy it! So get active! You don’t have to have a gym membership to burn off some calories. Pull yourself away from your desk and go for a walk. Or make the time to go for a bike ride with your kids – the video games will still be there.