We’ve made it past Thanksgiving, but many of us are still faced with all kinds of holiday festivities that center around food and eating with friends and family. While it is a time of year when many of us indulge in foods we don’t normally eat the rest of the year, you can still enjoy the holidays without putting on the average five pounds most people pack on during the last month or so of the year.
1. Watch What You Drink
Alcohol consumption goes up for many people during the holidays and is a source of all kinds of hidden calories and sugars. Instead of indulging in that cup of egg nog (350 calories in one cup BEFORE alcohol is added), try drinking a glass of club soda with some lime or cranberry juice. Other good options include seltzer water with a squeeze of lemon or, if you want to enjoy an alcoholic cocktail, vodka or gin with a lemon or lime twist.
2. Eat Before Going to the Party
Another way to stay with your own personal healthy eating habits is to eat a healthy filling meal before going to a party. You can still enjoy eating a few light snacks or food items, but if you arrive already feeling satisfied instead of hungry, you are less likely to over-stuff yourself on sweets and other high calorie foods.
3. Let Others Go Before You
Holiday buffets are often filled with all kinds of appetizing and wonderful looking foods. However, the luscious foods look a lot less appetizing after large numbers of people have left them in disarray. Also, most of the foods that you should avoid are usually gone by the time the last person goes through the line!
4. Help the Host
You can also avoid many food issues by simply staying busy while others are eating. Most hosts and hostesses are happy when people offer to help keep drinks filled and making sure dishes are taken out of the way. You can package any leftovers up and send them home with other guests and keep to your healthy eating plan. Your host will think you’re a great guest and you will both be happy in the process.
The holidays are a great time to enjoy spending time with family and friends. While it can be easy to give into temptations and over indulge in all kinds of unhealthy foods, with a little bit of strategic thinking and planning, you can enjoy yourself without packing on extra pounds.
What are your favorite holiday foods? Do you have methods you use to stick to a healthy eating plan this time of year?
– The Alternative Daily
