‘Tis the season for festivities and food. Lots and lots of food. If it were just a feeding frenzy a couple of days here and there we wouldn’t expect to pack on the pounds during the holidays. But we all know that between Thanksgiving and the beginning of the new year, we’re going to be inundated with cookies at the office, dinners out with friends, and defaulting to take out on busy shopping days.
Here’s a recipe for staying on track no matter what holiday challenge you’re facing.
Holiday-Proof Your Diet
You won’t always be able to control the food you’re served, and you’re definitely going to be tempted with sweet treats. Go into these with a plan:
- Eat a healthy meal close to the time of the event. Don’t skip meals and ‘save up’ for the feast.
- Bring a healthy dish along to a party
- If you have a sweet treat, cut back elsewhere (rolls, potatoes, pasta, etc)
Make healthy choices easier
A buffet of delicious holiday food can be a terrible temptation. Try and make healthy choices easier:
- Make a small plate of your favorites, and then move away from the buffet table. No food is ‘bad,’ but you can eat too much of a good thing. Leave room to enjoy your favorites, then get right back to healthy choices.
- Eat your vegetables first, even if you have to dip them in something. They’ll take the edge off of your cravings.
- Avoid or limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can make you forget your goals.
Keep Moving
Keeping healthy habits like going to the gym is your super power this time of year. Between the stress of finding the right gifts for your loved ones, crazy meal times, and less time for yourself than you’d like, physical activity can fall to the wayside. Don’t let it! Regular physical activity can help lower stress and offset some of the damage we’re doing to our diets. Get your family involved in the fun! Everyone can go for a walk after a holiday meal.
Above all of this, remember what this season is about. Take the time to celebrate being with your loved ones and connecting with the people you care about. They are the real reason for the season.
Need some help staying on track? Reach out! Email Erica at [email protected] for a consultation.
Happy sweating,
Meghan
