Tis the season for family gatherings, gifts and lots and LOTS of food. This time of year nobody is immune to the possibility of putting on a few extra pounds around the holidays. We may stick to a very strict diet in our normal day to day lives but when it comes to holiday gatherings we can’t always control what food will be served. This is why it’s smart to have a plan or some idea of how to avoid eating too much or even eating foods you normally try to avoid.
- Quality Over Quantity — Rather than trying EVERYTHING that’s put in front of you pick out a few of your favorite things to enjoy in small quantities. Giving up your favorites is no way to spend the holidays. You can feel free to enjoy them all in moderation.
- Don’t “Go” Hungry — If you’re heading to a party or gathering have something healthy and low calorie before you leave. This way you’re not starving when you get there and it will be easier to control the urge to reach out and grab everything!
- Balance Your Plate — With so many delicious holiday favorites to choose from it’s hard to keep a balanced plate. Make sure to load up with healthy, low calorie foods like the fruit and vegetable dishes with smaller portions of the higher calorie foods. You fill up on the healthy stuff but still get to enjoy the taste of the richer foods you enjoy.
- Limit Alcohol — Holiday cocktails like eggnog are notoriously high in calories. By limiting our intake of alcohol or cutting it out completely, we’re helping to maintain healthy holiday eating and drinking habits.
- Exercise — Fall and winter are great times of year to do really fun outdoor activities that burn calories. Sledding, skiing, snowboarding, shoveling…you name it! By staying active during this time of year you’re helping to offset the increase in food consumption.
For more information on healthy eating habits please visit our website here. Or to learn more about the services offered by Health Through Awareness please visit us here.
