Holiday Word Play

Editor’s note: This month, the Cool Word Club will focus on the holidays with some oh-so-festive words!

So you had a little too much to eat at your Christmas dinner? You’re not alone.

Holiday meals are a common time for people to overeat. But don’t panic.

Just remember: To gain one pound of body fat, you need to eat an extra 3,500 calories. That’s a lot of food! A slice of pumpkin pie has about 200 to 300 calories. A half cup of mashed potatoes has approximately 150 calories.

And a cup of hot chocolate? Well, if it’s a sugar-free version, it’s got about 50 calories. But if it’s made with milk and has some whipped cream on top, it’s likely to have around 200 calories.

So if you start to covet (see definition below) that steamy cup of hot chocolate that your friend is sipping, you might want to ask yourself whether you really want the whipped cream after all!

Speak your mind: What do you think is the best way to avoid overeating?

COVET: To desire enviously.

HOLIDAY WORD PLAY—What a Big Job!

Editor’s note: This month, the Cool Word Club will focus on the holidays with some oh-so-festive words!

For more than 100 years, the US Post Office has answered children’s letters that are addressed to Santa. In 1912, the Postal Service officially launched the much beloved program known as Letters to Santa. It grew so large that the public, charitable organizations and community groups were enlisted to also help respond to the young letter writers.

As the program expanded, many Post Offices allowed schools, charities and private citizens to “adopt” individual letters and fulfill the child’s request for gifts. The largest such program is located in New York City, where more than a half million letters to Santa are received from children each year.

Of course, all this happens before Christmas eve. That’s when Santa proceeds with alacrity (see definition) in order to complete the enormous task of delivering all his Christmas presents. Talk about a big job!

If you’d like to keep track of Santa’s travels on Christmas eve, check www.noradsanta.org.

Speak your mind: Do you have any tasks that you complete with alacrity?

ALACRITY: With readiness, willingness and promptness.