And so it's begins. The holiday season. Celebrations, parties, food. Lot's of food! We work hard all year, but then the holidays come and it all goes downhill. Our temptation grows and our willpower shrinks. How can we enjoy the holidays, enjoy good food but not reverse all of our hard work? Can we indulge without the bulge?
The short answer is yes. If you don't look at the way you eat as a "diet", but rather eating well as a lifestyle choice, that's the first step. We can't always be heatlhy. If you make nutritious choices for the most part, you will start to follow that pattern. If you deny yourself something you really want, chances are that you will eat that and more in the long run. It's about balance. Here are some tips to help you through the holidays so you can enjoy without feeling the guilt.
Stay active-you will burn more calories throughout the day if you keep moving. Even better if you are getting your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes a day. This will burn even more calories and is good for your heart health.
Stay hydrated-Keep water near you at all times. Aim to drink 8 ounces within each hour if you can. It will keep you full among the many other benefits of drinking water.
Focus on nutrient dense foods throughout the day-don't go to a gathering hungry. Fill up on foods with a balance of protein, fat and whole grains. Eat lots of veggies and enjoy fruit instead of sugary snacks.
Make a healthier dish-Whether you are going somewhere or entertaining at home, you can create a healthier recipe. You can cut back on butter, oils, and sugar withouth losing any of the flavor. You can also replace white flour with whole wheat or even do 1/2 and 1/2 mix.
Fill your plate with a little of each item that you want-use a smaller plate and take a small helping of each item that you want. Try to include veggies and some protein if available. This will help fill you while eating other foods that you desire.
Take time to talk and enjoy your company before running for 2nds-give you body some time to digest your first helping before running for 2nds. Drink some water, chat with friends/family.
Pass out or portion out leftovers-if you have company, you can pass out leftovers or portion them out and put them in the freezer.
Be mindful-Stop and think about what you are eating. If you are just eating it to eat it, is it worth it? If you still really want it, than have it. It's good to know if you are eating out of hunger, craving or just plain boredom.
Don't beat yourself up!-If you ate more than you planned to, don't be upset with yourself and look at it as failing. Start over the next day on the right track. We all have lapses. That's called being human!
Enjoy your holiday season-Most importanty, enjoy time with friends and family. Be thankful for all that you have and have a happy and healthy holiday!!
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