Beat the Buffet: Ten Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating (Part 1)
Post written by Erika Brown
It’s true: The holiday season does mean big dinners, more parties and more lunchroom treats. Add to that the days of travel, endless family and late nights, it’s hard not to mourn the loss of your health before the holidays even begin.
But healthy holiday eating doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. With a little planning you can maintain your goals while still enjoying all the wonderful flavours this season has to offer.
Whether it’s keeping your blood sugars in check, or preventing the dreaded holiday weight gain, follow these simple tips to help keep you on track.
1. Root for Routine
Going non-stop can throw off eating and exercise routines. It’s up to you to fight back! Make sure to eat regularly, exercise and take any medications the same time as usual, even on days off. Showing up hungry is a surefire way to overindulge.
2. Avoid Excess Appetizers
Appetizers add up! They’re often high in calories and fat. It’s easy to eat a meal’s worth of calories from appetizers alone. If you’re staring down a table of tempting appys, scan it, pick the best and leave the rest. Visit with friends away from the table to avoid grazing.
3. Rethink Your Holiday Drink
What we drink during the holidays is just as important as what we eat. Many festive drinks are high in calories and sugar. For example, one peppermint mocha can have as much as 10 teaspoons of added sugar! To make matters worse, the brain doesn’t sense liquid calories the same way it does food calories, making it easy to overindulge. Some festive alternatives: try putting mint and cranberries in your water or diluting eggnog and hot chocolate with skim milk.
4. Choose Your Booze Wisely
Alcohol can add to the festive mood. But it also adds a lot of calories and can affect your blood sugar control. Women should consume no more than two drinks a day and men should have no more than three a day. As far as blood sugar control goes, never drink on an empty stomach and remember to test your blood sugars after drinking.
5. Watch Your Portions
The only thing that should be getting stuffed this holiday season is the turkey. Whether you’re at a sit-down family feast, or a buffet style party, be smart. Use the healthy plate method to ensure you are eating balanced meals. Make sure half of your plate is veggies, then leave a quarter of your plate for carbs and a quarter of your plate for lean protein. It’s a simple rule that can save you a lot of regret... and heartburn!
I know--I promised ten tips, but I didn’t want to throw too much at you in one post. Check back for the final five tips on how to survive the holidays, without sacrificing your healthy lifestyle.
