‘Tis the season to be jolly, which usually includes eating and sometimes over-eating. A high-calorie meal here or there doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but stop to think about how many meals like this happen during the holidays. There are family parties, work parties, neighborhood parties, church parties, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmas week, all the way to Near Year’s Day.
In addition to extra meals and calories is the fact that activity levels generally taper off during the holidays. The combination of overeating and decreased exercise has the potential to provide weight gain that is often not lost, and year after year, a few more pounds continue to be added to the tally.
It is possible to get through the holidays, however, without gaining weight and being mad at yourself in January. Consider these 10 tips for healthy holiday eating.
1) Eat what you love and leave what you like. You don’t have to eat everything that is put in front of you. Make careful choices and stick with the foods you enjoy most. Don’t select foods that aren’t your favorite just because they are there.
2) Go to gatherings to gather, not to eat. Focus on enjoying those you are with, not the food.
3) Fill your plate with 80 percent healthy foods, and save the other 20 percent for dessert or treats.
4) Skip the punch and eat the cake. You’ll likely enjoy eating your calories more than drinking them.
5) Don’t save up for later. It doesn’t make sense to starve all day because you have a party in the evening. You will likely end up consuming more because you are so hungry. Eat light, but don’t skip meals.
6) And specifically, don’t skip breakfast. It is the most important meal since it fuels your body as you start the day.
7) Pack the snacks. Keep healthy snack choices available when you’re on the run so you don’t overeat at mealtime.
8) Follow the three-bite rule. People seem to most enjoy the first and last bites of what they eat, so put a bite in between and call it good after three.
9) Don’t skimp on sleep. Being tired and cranky isn’t good for anyone during the holidays.
10) Drink water. Staying hydrated during the hustle and bustle will help you feel your best and will also help you not feel so hungry when you get to the table.