‘Tis the Season for Holiday Eats!
As you look at your calendar of social engagements for the next few weeks you may notice an abundance of holiday parties cluttering your weekends. Celebrating with friends at festive gatherings, schmoozing with colleagues at the annual holiday party, or attending a neighborhood holiday gift swap can be so much fun. These events can also be a major source of stress for those who are watching their waistlines. Don’t let the daunting task of eating healthy at these holiday parties spoil the fun this year. Check out these tips to help you survive the holiday season without packing on the pounds.
1. Don’t come hungry! Arriving to a party hungry is a surefire way to guarantee you will overindulge in rich holiday spreads. Don’t skip meals during the day thinking that you are saving calories. Research shows that people who skip meals end up eating as much, if not more, than those who eat regularly. Have a snack or light meal before attending the party so that your focus can be on socializing instead of quenching those hunger pangs.
2. Bring a healthy dish to share. The best way to ensure that there is something healthy to eat at a holiday party is to bring something you whipped up yourself. That way you will have at least one fallback dish to enjoy. Plus your healthy contribution to the buffet table will be greatly appreciated by all.
3. Easy on the alcohol. Though that eggnog may be a tempting traditional holiday treat, it is also packed full of empty calories. Try to limit your alcoholic drinks especially those made with sugary mixers. Drink lots of water to quench your thirst without the extra calories.
4. Fill up on the veggies. Most parties will undoubtedly have the staple veggie platter and dip. Dig in guilt free, but skip the dip if you can or limit it as much as possible.
5. Chat it up! Though at times it may seem that holiday parties are more about eating than socializing, don’t be afraid to do the mingle before scoping out the food. Catching up with friends and family is what these parties are supposed to be about after all. Chatting it up with friends or colleagues is the perfect way to distract yourself from the food and have a great time.
6. Nothing should be off limits. Depriving yourself entirely is a recipe for disaster. If you have a favorite dish you desperately want then allow yourself a small portion to satisfy your craving. Just don’t go overboard.
Have any other holiday tricks that help you stay on target with your goals this time of year? We’d love to hear about them. Share your comments here.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Vtrim!
Tags: health tips for holidays, healthy eating for holidays, holiday eating, holiday parties
RSS Feed
iTunes Podcast