The holidays are a wonderful time full of family, friends and food. Lots of food! And there’s no reason why you can’t give into temptation and indulge – in moderation of course. With a little preparation and know-how you can safely navigate through the holiday season without gaining a pound.
Here’s a few tips to help you enjoy your holiday meals and still fit in the same pair of jeans come New Year’s.
Eat slowly. It’s easy to eat fast and overeat because our stomachs don’t have time to register that they’re full. Instead of scarfing your food down, eat slowly and enjoy conversation with your family and friends. You could also try putting your fork down after every bite.
Exercise. You don’t necessarily have to go and hit the gym (but that wouldn’t be a bad idea), instead try going for a walk after dinner and check out all the different seasonal displays around your neighborhood, play with the kids or anything that will burn calories.
Bring a low-calorie dish. By preparing a dish of your own you will be able to control what goes in it. And the party host will thank you as well! Check out our low-calorie recipes for ideas.
Skip the fast food. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it’s easy to grab quick meals at a fast food restaurant. While it may be handy, it isn’t always the healthiest. Try saving leftovers of healthier meals from the day before, or prepackage some meals and freeze them for later. If you must eat fast food, check out our guide to healthy fast food eating.
Don’t show up hungry: Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning and a light nutritious snack before going to your holiday party. Never show up at a holiday party starving as you will be more likely to gorge yourself on calorie-dense foods. Snack on a piece of fruit, carrots, yogurt or a piece of string cheese before leaving.
Portion control. You’ve heard the saying that moderation is key and during the holiday season that saying could not be truer. Eat small portions of a variety of foods so you don’t feel like you are depriving yourself.
Drink wisely. The calories in soda, wine, beer, egg nog and other drinks can add up. Instead, opt for water, calorie-free flavored water or if you need to satisfy that sweet tooth reach for a calorie-free diet soda. If you like to partake in alcoholic drinks over the holidays try to pass on the drinks mixed with regular soda. Instead choose a light beer or light wine and drink in moderation.
Maintain your weight. Focus on maintaining your weight over the holiday season, not losing weight. It’s hard enough to lose weight any other time of the year, so it’s better not to set an unrealistic goal.
Skip the New Year’s resolution. As odd as this advice might sound, there’s actually a psychological disadvantage to planning your diet to start after New Year’s. You’re setting yourself up for binge-eating over the holidays because in the back of your mind you think, why not, after January 1st you will never do it again!
Develop a plan. Typically you will know in advance where you are going to be eating, the types of foods that will be there and so on. Plan out ahead of time what food you will want to eat and the foods you could do without. Plan on staying out of the kitchen where food is setup and readily available to snack on all day, bring some gum to chew on to keep you busy, etc.
Enjoy your holiday meal. Don’t stress over what you eat. One day of indulging isn’t going to completely derail you from your weight loss goals. Do your best and then return to your normal eating habits the next day.
- Stress Eating And Tips To Avoid It
Many people tend to eat more when they are feeling stressed. Not only can... - 4 Tips For A Healthy Mexican Dinner
As delicious as Mexican dishes are, they can also be loaded with sodium, refined... - One Simple Secret To Healthy Eating And Weight Loss
Finding it hard to eat healthy whole foods? Can’t seem to get a handle... - Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas
Christmas is just around the corner and if you’re anything like me then you...
Leave A Comment