How to eat right this holiday season
Holiday fun with little or no weight gain? Yes it can be done. A few days of overindulgence will not undo your best intentions to be healthy but endless days of overeating and not being active will. The best way to prevent unwanted weight gain during the holiday season is to have a plan to be active and eat well and stick with it.
Use your December calendar to record the days of the week you exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, on most if not all days. If you get to the end of the day and have not been active – it’s time to get moving. Three 10-minute brisk walks throughout the day can have positive health benefits and help you feel more energetic. A walk or exercise in the evening can also help curb your appetite.
Eat breakfast every day. When you eat breakfast, you won’t feel the urge to grab a high fat, midmorning snack, such as a doughnut, croissant or fast food muffin. Eating a balanced breakfast can also decrease the amount of food you eat later in the day.
Avoid skipping meals. Not eating throughout the day can lead to overeating later in the day. Instead, have several small nutritious snacks or meals during the day.
Watch out for party foods, which can be high in calories and fat. Opt for the vegetables and fruit. Watch out too for the high fat dips! Choose dips that are made with yogurt or low fat salad dressing or mayonnaise. If you overindulge on the finger foods opt for a light dinner afterward.
When eating out, choose foods that are steamed, baked, broiled, roasted, or poached. Select meat, fish, poultry or vegetables prepared with lemon, tomato and herbs instead of butter, rich sauces or gravy. Have pasta with tomato based sauces instead of cheese or cream sauces. Dark leafy green salads with light vinaigrette dressing are a good alternative to higher fat Caesar and taco salads.
Enjoy a small taste of dessert. When faced with a tempting array of rich desserts try a few small pieces or share a larger piece.
Drink plenty of fluids other than alcohol. Alcohol can add unwanted calories and can leave you feeling tired and run down. If you drink alcohol, keep it to no more than 2 standard alcoholic beverages per occasion and no more than 14 alcoholic drinks for men or 9 alcoholic beverages for women per week.
