Thanksgiving may be right behind us, but several holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and New Year’s Eve are on the horizon, and also bring lots of food to the table. These festivities make it feel impossible to keep up with our healthy habits. Here are some tips to eat, drink, and be merry without overindulging.
Plan Ahead
There are many holiday parties this time of year, increasing the temptation to overindulge more than any other time of year. Keep tabs on parties and events by using a calendar to come up with a strategy ahead of time. Do you look forward to visiting the dessert table at holiday parties? Marking down the days can help you visualize the need to limit sweet treats to parties only during this time of year, particularly if there is more than one event in the same week.
Include Healthy Options When Possible
Are you hosting or joining a potluck? This can present a unique opportunity for you to present a vegetable or fruit platter or try your hand at a new, healthy recipe. Not only will this be a welcoming surprise amongst all the other more rich food choices, but it may also inspire someone else to make healthy decisions.
Socialize Away From Food
Try your best to not converse near the buffet or foods table. This may lead to excessive grazing and makes it more difficult to manage portion sizes and build a balanced meal. Instead, serve yourself a plate and find a seat to enjoy your food. When done, use a napkin to cover your plate or get up and toss the plate in the trash. If there is still food on your plate and a conversation is taking place, it is easy to keep picking at your plate, even though you feel satisfied.
Focus on Special Holiday Dishes
While there are typically many options to choose from, (hello sides!) it is best to be selective and choose items that are specific to the holiday season. Dinner rolls are available year-round, but grandma’s famous stuffing or your aunts special pie only gets made once a year. Focus on these items first! And remember, holiday leftovers are fantastic. If you can’t get to all the dishes available, make a to-go plate with the food you did not get to try at the time of the party. This allows you to enjoy them later, without feeling sick from overeating.
Get Some Movement
Try to incorporate some activity after eating. This may be going for a walk around the block, singing Christmas carols for the neighbors, throwing a dance party, or playing games that everyone can participate in.
The holiday season can be challenging to navigate our nutrition, especially if you are trying to maintain healthy habits. Planning ahead of your holiday plans and being mindful of what you eat can make it less stressful so that you can savor the season and still maintain your own personal health goals.
At Lone Star Circle of Care, we have a registered dietician who can help you maintain healthy eating habits this holiday season! To schedule a visit with Karissa Lucio RD, LD, DCES call 877-800-5722 or speak with your provider.
Blog post written by Karissa Lucio RD, LD, CDCES, Lone Star Circle of Care Registered Dietitian.
