The holidays are an amazing time of year. Families get together to celebrate, parents shower their children with gifts, and in many parts of the country, the ground and everything else is covered in an angelic white powder. Another great part of the holiday season: the food. Everyone getting together means lots of pie, cake, and cookies. Plenty of stuffing, turkey and ham. Appetizers, entrees, desserts – the celebrations and the meals seem to never end. But there is, of course, a downside to all of that delicious food: the weight gain that follows. There is, however, good news for those that love the holidays and love to eat but do not like to pack on the pounds. Below are some tips for eating healthy during the holidays, so that you can enjoy the food but keep the pounds at bay.
1. Fill up on the veggies! When you are surrounded by people eating, it can be nearly impossible to try to abstain. So instead of fighting an uphill battle, change the dynamics of what is on your plate. Avoid the stuffing and the sweets and instead pile on the salad and the greens. Brussel sprouts, spinach, and squash are all delicious favorites during the holiday seasons. So fill up on the good stuff!
2. Drink plenty of water at every meal. It can seem like over eating is almost required at some family meals, but if you are too full to eat anything more, then you will slow down on your own accord. You might be surprised by how much you can avoid eating if you make an attempt to drink extra glasses of water.
3. Savor a piece of your favorite dessert, instead of sampling everything. When you see a dessert table covered in delicious treats, asking you to abstain entirely is an unreasonable request. But instead of taking a bit of everything, pick your favorite and enjoy the whole thing. A full slice of pumpkin pie will be more satisfying than small bites off several treats.
4. Wear the right outfit. What we are wearing influences what we eat. When we wear billowy shirts or dresses, we don’t feel the same need to avoid binge eating as when we wear more fitted attire. So save the elastic-waist pants for hanging out around the house, and put on some real slacks for the big meals.
5. Stay committed to your fitness routine! It can be tempting to just say “to heck with it” when you are eating extra and enjoying the tasty pleasures of the holiday season. But the truth is that this is precisely the time that you need to hit the gym. Work off the extra calories by doing more cardio or lifting heavier weights.
6. Use a smaller plate when you have the option. We tend to fill up our plates at buffet lines, so the more room on the plate, the more food ends up in our bellies. Some buffets only offer one size, but if you have multiple plate sizes to choose from, opt for something smaller. You will naturally help yourself to less calories.
7. Eat something before the meal. If you show up to a big meal completely ravenous, you will eat more. Try having a healthy snack, like a glass of V-8 juice, to fill you up a bit before heading over.
– Emily Joseph has been writing about QualSite LASIK for many years. When she’s not writing, you can find her finding quiet time to relax and read some of her favorite books.