How to Eat Right and Still Enjoy the Holidays

There are so many temptations during the holiday season it’s no wonder many of us get stressed over how to get through it all while still being able to fit into our jeans come January 1st.

As someone who loves food, giving up great food during the holidays for me isn’t an option.  And it shouldn’t be for you either.

So here are a few ways to bring pleasure — not the pounds — to the holiday festivities:

1)  Aim to maintain. I recently heard about someone who skipped her friends holiday party because she was dieting and thought there would be too many tempting foods.   To me that’s unfortunate and not so healthy.  Instead of trying to completely overhaul your diet and lose weight during the holidays, try to maintain your current weight.

And if you really do want to lose weight, be realistic about just how much you can lose and don’t beat yourself for having a few treats.

2)  Don’t completely deny yourself of holiday foods. This time of year is all about celebration and festivity, and food is an integral part of that.  When you tell yourself you can’t have certain foods, you want them even more (studies even prove this).  That’s when overeating, bingeing and feeling out of control becomes part of your holiday experience.  So eat the holiday foods you enjoy, just don’t over-do it.

3)  Eat three square meals a day, just like you should do all-year-round.  It might make sense on paper to cut calories by skipping meals during the day when you know you’re going to a holiday party or dinner later.  But this strategy almost always backfires and leads to overeating, low energy, guilt, and generally feeling bad.

So take the time to have a decent breakfast that will help you feel full and keep your energy up.

4)  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. No matter what you eat, enjoy it.  I’d rather see someone take a piece of cake and truly savor and enjoy it, than someone eating a salad and hating every minute of it, or wishing they were eating the cake instead.

5)  Keep liquid calories in check. Oftentimes holiday drinks like eggnog are loaded with calories, sugar and fat. So beware.  Also, best to limit all alcohol to one or two drinks.  It not only adds extra calories, but after a few drinks its way to easy to reach for more food — even if you’re full. Often I’ll alternate between water and alcohol.  This not only helps me cut down on alcoholic beverages, but keeps me hydrated so I don’t get a headache the next day!

6)  Just say know to the junk food. Don’t blow your calories on things like chips or a candy bar.  Instead, save your snack allowance for a decadent dish or your favorite dessert that will make you feel more satisfied.  There are so many good treats around this time of year, best to have a small piece of something really good than the normal crappy, junk food!

7)  Add exercise whenever and wherever you can. I try to maintain my exercise routine, but realize it can get hard when things get busy.  But even if you can fit it one or two short sessions a week, that’s good.  It will not only help you handle the stress of the busy season better, but it will keep you feeling fit and less likely to over-indulge later on at the party.

8)   Share the joy of the food. Often I’ll take a piece of cake, have a few bites, and then give the rest to my husband.  And if he doesn’t want it I’ll just push it aside.  And if you love to bake (like I do!) give some away to friends and neighbors.  I enjoy baking cookies, but I can only eat so many without putting on the pounds.  So I’ll often share it with others, and they’re really happy!

So make this holiday season one of pleasure and one you remember for the good times with family and friends.  Relax, enjoy yourself, and eat in moderation so you don’t have to forgo all the delicious holiday treats.

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How to Indulge, Without the Bulge, Over the Holidays

 

Holiday Eating — Without Weight Gain!

 

Are you one of those people that enjoy the holidays, but dread the inevitable weight gain that goes along with it? 

Do you want to attend the holiday parties and social events, but fear you’ll lose control once you see the dessert table?

With the constant temptations of calorie-laden food, it can be a challenge to get through the holiday season without putting on a few extra pounds.

So how to get through this “Season of Eating” without weight gain? 

Here are some of my favorite and helpful tips:

1)  Make every bite count.  When you arrive at a party survey the table and decide which foods you love the most, or special foods you only get during the holidays.  Whether its pecan pie, creamy fudge, or another tasty treat that’s your favorite — have some of that and remind yourself you can have the other foods at a later time. 

Remember, too much self-denial stirs up cravings that get stronger and lead you to overeat or binge later on.

2)  Be realistic.  Don’t expect yourself to make calorie controlled, anti-oxidant, fiber-rich choices at every holiday gathering.  It’s completely normal to eat some rich or indulgent foods.  Don’t go to an event or party thinking you’ll stay away from those foods and only eat the healthy stuff.  Don’t fool yourself…be realistic.  You’re only human after all!

3)  Eat regular meals, especially breakfast.  It’s important to eat breakfast year-round, but even more vital this time of year.  Too many people will skip breakfast in order to save calories later in the day.  It always backfires.  Always.  You’ll only end up eating more later in the day, and then feel guilty afterwards.  Besides, breakfast is a good way to start off the day in a healthy, positive attitude!

4)  Just move on.  Picture this:  you’re at a holiday party.  One minute you’re sitting next to a bowl of potato chips and the next minute the bowl is empty.  You don’t know where the chips went, but your fingers are greasy…. 

Move yourself away from the food or buffet table.  Once you’ve filled your plate and eaten your food, just walk away.  That’s right, walk away.  It’s just too darn tempting (and easy) to mindlessly nibble on what’s next to you.  So just move on. 

5)  Remember that beverages have calories too.  I know, it’s tough to think that glass of wine, eggnog or punch is not “calorie-free.”    On top of that, alcohol has that magical power of making us forget that FOOD has calories too, as too much alcohol can lead us to overeat!

6)  Arrive at a holiday party HUNGRY.  That’s right, hungry.  Ignore the old diet advice to “eat beforehand so you won’t arrive hungry.”   You want to be hungry so you can enjoy some of your favorite foods.  Just don’t arrive famished.  There’s a difference.  You don’t want to arrive so hungry that you eat everything in sight. 

If I find I’m getting really hungry before a party, I’ll have a very small snack.  Just enough so I don’t arrive famished, but not too much so I still have an appetite to enjoy the wonderful foods when I arrive!

7)  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.  Okay.  I know.  I get it.  You KNOW you need to eat more fruits and veggies.   But this time of year fruits and veggies seem to just get overlooked or forgotten about.  Even I have to remind myself to eat more of them this time of year.  Especially when I’m feeling tired or blue.  I’m either not getting enough fruits & veggies, or I’m not getting enough sleep (or both).  Which leads me to….  

8)  Get your sleep.  Really.  I know it can be hard with the long hours at work, the extra socializing, and late-night business affairs.  But getting enough sleep is crucially important this time of year.  Did you know that people who sleep more are, on average, slimmer than those who get less shut-eye?  Yup.  And anyone who knows me can tell you I get 8 hours of sleep a night.  And if I don’t, I’m more tempted to reach for the high fat & high calorie foods.   So I’m careful to get enough shut-eye.

So get out your festive clothing and head to a holiday party.  Don’t stay home in fear of facing the food.  Instead, get out, have fun, and remember the tips I just gave you.  You just may find you had more fun than you thought you would!