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Is it possible to eat healthy during the holidays? Do you really want to?
For me, the answer is yes and no.
Yes, I know it's possible to continue to eat healthy during the holidays. But no, I really don't want to. So instead, I'll try to find a happy medium.
Some say that most people only gain about a pound during the holidays, others say you can gain up to ten. I imagine it depends on the person.
Here are my 8 tips for avoiding holiday weight gain that I wrote last year around this time.
1. Avoid empty calories -- Instead of drinking high calorie beverages, try drinking water with lemon. And limit alcohol whenever possible.
2. Try not to go to holiday parties hungry. When possible, eat a healthy meal before you attend the party. You will make much better food choices if you are not starving when you arrive to the party.
3. If you must indulge in holiday treats, remember that portion control is key. Just have one cookie, rather than a handful. Or have a small piece of pie, rather than a large piece. It’s okay to indulge, just try not to over-indulge.
4. Try making your favorite recipes healthier, just about every recipe has a healthy version.
5. Burn a few extra calories by having fun and dancing to your favorite holiday music. Don’t just listen to those holiday tunes, burn calories by dancing to them too. Kids love it when mom dances with them.
6. When possible, avoid stress. I know this is easier said then done, especially at this time of the year. But many of us are emotional eaters, and stress is an emotion that can really pack on the pounds. Do what ever possible to avoid stress.
7. Dress for success. Try to wear snug fitting clothing, it will make you more conscious of your food intake. And we usually look thinner when we’re not wearing clothes that are too baggy.
8. As always, avoid processed foods. Remember, you are what you eat.
Of course, I will be trying to stick to these tips as much as possible, but it's easier to know the things we should be doing than it is to actually do them (at least for me). Here's an example of one of my many healthy holiday eating dilemmas.
For Thanksgiving my son wanted me to make the pumpkin cheesecake that I made last year (everybody loved it), so I did. And since it's a recipe lower in fat and calories, it seemed like it should be a healthy dessert choice -- that was until I realized I couldn't stop at just one serving (or even two for that matter). I guess you could say, I over did it a bit.
I know the best thing for me to do is to get over it and get back to making healthier choices. So instead of focusing on the negative, I'm going to follow my tips on the days I can, and not be too hard on myself on the days I can't. I think that's a pretty good plan.
What about you? Are you worried about holiday weight gain? Will you be trying to eat healthy over the next few weeks, or are you going to indulge your cravings and worry about it after the new year? I would love to know in comments.
Also See:
- Healthy Holiday Dieting Tips
- Dieting Tips: Keep Healthy Foods In The House At All Times
- Healthy Holiday Eating
- 8 Ways to Eat Healthy Over the Holidays
- 9 Tips on how to maintain not gain through the holidays
Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com
Photo Credit: Lindsey T.
