After Halloween, it’s hard to keep your diet straight.
First it starts with all the leftover Halloween candy, then by the time that’s finished, it’s time for Thanksgiving. After a big meal like that, one would hope big food days are behind us, but no there’s still Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve among other holidays to consider. But this time of year doesn’t have to be all about eating unhealthy. Stick to some of these useful tips in order to get through the holiday season without feeling like an overstuffed turkey.
- Drink water, and lots of it. You can really never go wrong with drinking water. Not only is it good for you, it will also fill you up so you are less tempted to snack on tasty treats.
- Chew gum. According to clinical psychologist Susan Albers, “Chewing gum tricks your brain into thinking you’re eating, so you actually eat less. It gives your body time to get a read on whether you are full or not. Chewing mint gum can ease anxiety, which tends to come around every holiday season.”
- Limit your alcohol intake. This trick kind of goes hand in hand with drinking water. Alcohol is just empty calories. Be aware of how much you are drinking and what you are drinking. Also, between each alcoholic beverage, drink a glass of water. It will help you pace yourself, and perhaps even ease a hangover the next morning.
- Indulge in special holiday treats. This time of year is filled with special treats that may only come around during the holiday season. Even though the store bought cookies your coworker brought in can be tempting, save your sweet tooth for treats that are homemade or that you know you love. It will make the snack seem a lot more meaningful.
- Stay active. It might be hard to stay active during the holiday season, but keeping up with exercise is key. Staying active should help you maintain your weight. It can ease guilt about what you’ve been eating, too.
- Prep meals. Prepping meals can be a daunting task, but you’ll be so much better off for doing so. By taking time each week to prep meals you are more likely to stick to your diet and less likely to splurge on unhealthy treats.
- Use gravy/sauces sparingly. When it comes to big holiday meals, you can assume you’re going to be consuming a good amount of calories. To cut back on that a bit, try limiting the amount of gravies and sauces you use. They are basically empty calories. Sure they might make your food taste even better, but they won’t fill you up any quicker.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty. According to Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., CEO of NY Nutrition Group, it’s important to “Nix the guilt.” She says, “Feeling guilty after eating foods you don’t usually allow yourself to eat can breed more unhealthy behaviors. So abandon those negative voices in your head, give yourself permission to enjoy the indulgence guilt-free, and then remember to get back on track with your normal eating routine the very next day.”
- Bring a dish/drink to pass. If you’re worried there won’t be healthier dishes to choose from or you have certain diet restrictions you either want or have to stick to, ask or suggest a dish to bring. This way you’ll know there’s at least one healthy thing you will enjoy!
- Eat a good breakfast. Just because you know you’ll be eating a big meal later in the day does not mean you should skip out on breakfast. Eating the first meal of the day will help you feel and stay full later on and you’ll be less tempted to eat more than necessary.
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