Following is a brief video showing some fun holiday shortcuts that will wow your guests -- even though they're so simple that they make it seem like you're cheating.

Around the holidays, we all tend to eat too much, and then suffer the consequences. Either our waistline grows a few inches and we strive to get it back in shape, or we continue to beat ourselves up for putting on a few pounds and sink into a mild depression over it.

Well, here is some advice from someone who's been there, done that.

The good news: Maybe you don't need to restrict yourself from the foods you love most after all...