It’s hard enough to keep up with healthy eating on normal days, but when you add in a holiday – especially one that is based on a Feast – it becomes even more difficult! To help you out, we have come up with a few tips that you can use to enjoy your holiday without slipping into the food coma that is usually blamed on the poor turkey!
1. Offer to bring a dish of your own such as a lettuce salad with your favorite greens and veggies, a lightened up family favorite recipe or a dessert made without crust or with healthier ingredients. That way you know there is something you can eat that follows your plan.
2. If you bring a salad, fill your entire plate with the lettuce salad, put the turkey on top, and save a little room for one or two of your favorite side dishes in smaller portions.
3. Use a smaller plate than you normally would. Your brain sees a full plate, but in reality the portion size is much smaller than with a larger one. This helps keep you from breaking the calorie bank.
4. Drink an 8 ounce glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume. The water fills you up more, and keeps you hydrated to battle the dehydrating effects of the alcohol.
5. Speaking of drinks: hold on to that glass while you are socializing. It keeps your hands busy and away from the snacks.
6. Have a little bit of everything you like and savor it. By chewing properly, you not only give your stomach time to alert you when you are truly full, but you are helping it digest your food better.
7. Remember that the company is more important than the food. Focus on the people at the celebration – not just what’s on the table to eat. You may only see certain relatives once a year so talk to them and see how they’ve been!
8. If you end up indulging a little too much anyway, just remember that is a holi-DAY, not a holi-WEEK. Get right back on track at your next meal and leave the Feasting for next year.
