tonic | December 2010 | 37 smart living ››› I you want to party it up in style and good health this holiday season, what’s a u- earing, germ-wary, anxiety- ridden person supposed to do? Add the ollowing advice to your holiday list to stay healthy and happy. Y ou’ll be ab le to knock a ew back with your riends and amily rather than getting knocked of your eet! ➊Hands to yourself! How about forgoing those handshakes and social kisses for a st bump? A scientic study actually showed that people who greeted each other with handshakes are much more likely to pass on the u, colds and stomach bugs, than people who cheek-kissed. You have no idea what someone has been touching before you greet them. This isn’t completely adaptable advice for a work event, but for your social circle, it could be a good option! ➋Sharing is caring? Not for everything. While sharing is one of those rst lessons we learn as kids, there are always exceptions. It goes without saying that there should be no sharing of eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal care items to prevent contamination. Dishes of snacks that people reach into for a nibble are germier than you can imagine. When serving guests, put utensils with each dish so people can dole out the food instead of reaching their hands in, and no double dipping! ➌Avoid MCIS. You can prevent MCIS - Mistaken Cup Identity Syndrome (when someone takes a cup, puts it down next to another and then both people have to get new cups or inadvertently drink from each others). If you are using disposables, buy cups made from better materials (labeled “compostable” or “100% recycled content”), and have everyone mark their cup with a marker (get creative!). You can also use window markers to write on your glassware (it will come off in the wash, but not on your guests’ hands), or, better yet, coloured glass straws in everyone’s drinks, which can serve double duty as identication and eliminating plastic straws or stir sticks. Reducing is the best “R”. Recycling Spread Joy , Not Germs Eight Ways to Party in Good Health By Lisa Borden