It is not very difficult to be swept up in a whirlwind of decadent foods during holiday season. This blending of national celebrations and religions has always proven to be a great opportunity to savor as many delicious foods and treats as we desire. However, the parties and feasts that actually mark the celebration could burden your arteries and strain your waistline. By consuming just about 200 extra calories a day – a tumbler of eggnog and a piece of pecan pie here and some butter cookies and a couple of lattes there – you will end up putting on three pounds over a 5 to 6 week period. This might not sound like much, but for the few who are determined to shed those extra pounds, we have some useful information.
No one is suggesting you deprive yourself from what your heart desires, eat only tedious foods, or feel guilty about eating a treat. Rather, you can practice a little defensive cooking and eating. You can surely get through the holiday season without starving yourself.
Chart out your budget wisely. You don’t need to eat everything at parties and events. Be a little choosy and invest calories with caution on your favorite foods.
Think before you gobble down. It takes only a couple of minutes for your tummy’s “I am full” signal to reach your brain. We recommend you pause after your first helping. Chatter around! Drink some water and then check your appetite again before try to stuff down a small portion of your favorite food.
Avoid the lures. It is difficult to avoid looking at the servings on the dining table, but maintaining a decent distance from the feasting area helps avoid binging. Keep yourself busy with chatters and taking pictures. But, do not get yourself involved in mindless drinking in the process of avoiding foods. This will lead all your efforts to go in vain.
Do not attend parties with an empty stomach. This is perhaps the wisest idea to avoid filling up on calories at parties. When you go out with an empty stomach, you feel like eating all those wonderfully smelling and tasty food. Your brain will likely not recognize good and healthy food from bad food and you will likely binge.
Drink to your well being. If you have an eye on that glass of eggnog, mind that it will set you back 500 calories, and more if you accompany it with wine, beer, or other cocktails. If you drink alcohol, remember to drink a juice-flavored seltzer or a simple glass of water in between drinks.
Do not drink alcohol with an empty stomach. Alcohol gives your appetite a boost and suppresses your ability to control what you eat.
Wear your dancing shoes. If you are supposed to attend a family gathering or a work colleagues’ party, go for a long walk before you bathe, dress up and leave for it. It will start up your metabolism and you should also take a walk between dinner and dessert.
Make room for vegetables. At parties and feasts, do not ignore vegetables or fruits. They can make a healthy and delicious meal if prepared and garnished well. A plate of spicy goldenberry and tomato salad ensures health and taste both even for a food connoisseur like you.
Be buffet savvy. At buffets, walk around the food table a little before deciding on what you want to put on your plate. Once you are done checking out all the options, you might find yourself less inclined to stack different foods on your plate.
Never shop hungry. Holiday shopping adds on to your calories. When you go shopping for Christmas, you have a tendency to keep munching on something and that ‘something’ could be anything from a Subway wrap to Starbucks Lattes. So, fill up your tummy at home before you go shopping.
Cook from the heart. To show friends and family how much you care about them, be healthy and creative with your recipes. You don’t need to present something buttery or cheesy all the time to make your guests happy. You can take your time and think of something that will neither ruin their taste buds or their health. For example – chicken rotisserie with quinoa instead of rice or potatoes.
Pay attention to what really matters. Although it is difficult to spend time with friends and family without a table full of delicious foods and drinks, we suggest you have everyone’s health in mind while enjoying the holidays and spend more time listening to each other’s stories than binging on food.
A holiday can be both fun and healthy, if you try!
