Z. Johnson
Now that the holidays are finally here, everyone has the right to enjoy the festivities. When it comes to food, you want to make sure to delight yourself without thinking about future consequences. Sounds familiar? Well, the truth is that this is totally possible. You don’t have to be concerned about going overboard to the point of making you feel guilty. There are many ways in which we all can indulge in the celebration, and still stay healthy. Check my top 12 healthy holiday eating strategies, so you can enjoy this season while keeping your health in check.
Have the mindset to enjoy the holiday meals
This is a big one. Often times, people tend to go to two extremes. Either, they abuse of the indulgence to the point of gaining excess weight and altering the blood sugar, or, they limit themselves to the extreme of not enjoying in a sufficient way. Neither the two behaviors are ok. If you have been working towards achieving healthier eating habits, you should not be stressed out at all about being involved in the holiday activities. So, relax, participate of the holiday eating, knowing that this is part of life and that you have a right to indulge healthily.
Continue with your healthy eating habits the rest of the days
A very important fact is not to let go of your healthy eating regimen. You should be able to keep eating your scheduled meals as you are used to. Save the cravings only for the special activities. As I mentioned earlier, focus on making healthy holiday eating choices and keep up with your fitness goals in mind. This will make things easier for you. As well, it will avoid you from falling in unhealthy habits that can later cause guilt.
Follow your normal workout routine
The same thing goes for workouts. It is important that you keep your body active during the holidays, not only to stay fit and healthy, but also to control anxiety and unnecessary cravings. Keep your body moving during the rest of the days, and if you can include a quick workout routine the day of the dinner, then go for it! That will be much better for your body.
Always drink enough water
Another way to keep a good appetite and control your cravings is drinking a lot of water. You don’t have to drink more water than usual, you just have to stick to the regular routine. When drinking alcohol, it is also recommended to drink water in between to help you stay hydrated and to avoid getting drunk.
Do not skip meals
This is one of the most important rules of thumb for healthy holiday eating! Don’t fall for the wrong behavior of skipping meals in order to eat all your calories during the Christmas dinner! That is the worst mistake you could ever make, as this will affect your appetite and increase your cravings to the max! Attending dinners on empty stomach means overeating, and not precisely the most healthy foods. Most likely, you will be craving for sweets and alcohol, which will spike up more your blood sugar. My best advice is to take it easy and eat your normal early day meals, as usual.
Eat what you truly love and makes you full
Eating delicious food is good for the soul. Literally, there is nothing more pleasurable than to really sit down and enjoy a tasty food. So, take advantage of these festivities to eat your favorite meals, until you are satisfied. You don’t really need to eat everything that is being served, especially if it is not of your choice.
Be mindful when you eat
Being mindful is basically enjoying and tasting every bit of the food. Healthy holiday eating is a great experience and will make you feel good. If you are mindful when you eat, you will also realize on when to stop. In other words, don’t fall for the trap of eating everything in the buffet, nor taking seconds if you don’t feel to. Fill your plate with healthy foods like veggies and salads, to at least, half the plate. Eat until you are fully satisfied.
Make smart choices considering any special medical condition
Healthy holiday eating if there is condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
If you suffer from a special medical condition that requires drug prescriptions, first of all, follow the advice from your doctor. You can certainly enjoy this season celebrations, but it’s best if you are mindful of any possible dietary restrictions. If you are diabetic, you have many healthy choices; like having a low carb dish or a cake made with substitutes instead of sugar. There are other examples and specific recommendations to make healthier recipes here.
Don’t focus only on food
The holiday season is about celebrating with friends and loved ones. Yes, it is true that you can practice healthy holiday eating habits, but also, make sure you don’t miss out on the mingle and sharing. This is a time to involve in other activities, such as dancing, listening to good music, having a good chat and laughing. Try not to focus only on eating during the celebrations, in fact, you can also offer to help serve the tables.
Get some rest
We often forget to sleep properly during this time of the year. Many activities, errands and so much going on makes us forget how important is to get a good rest. Lack of sleep is associated with gaining weight and increasing anxiety. If you are going to stay up until late during a party, try to sleep well the next day and for the rest of the week.
Savour something different
Trying a different meal can also help us to not focus on the same tasty treats we are used to. Besides having a different bite and taste, it may help us control our appetite. This is especially true when it comes to salad dishes. If you attend a gathering in which everybody takes a dish, be creative! Offer to take a special meal or appetizer. Be proactive in taking the healthy alternatives like salads or main dishes.
Decide whether you can skip alcohol in certain gatherings
Not all the gatherings may have alcohol. A great tip to keep your health in check is to assess whether it is really important or not to have alcohol. Maybe you can skip a few alcohol drinking parties. You can also attend but can have less drinks during that night. It all depends and it is totally up to you. What I do recommend is to always drink in moderation. Try to not have more than 3 glasses during a party. Usually, when you get yourself used to healthy holiday eating, alcohol is the last thing you think of.
A final word…
When enjoying this season, make sure to practice these healthy holiday eating strategies. As you see, there are many hacks to still help you stay on track, while still indulging with your loved ones. It is easier than you think. All you need to do is to keep balance and moderation. Free your mind from any guilt and delight yourself in a healthy way! Comment below your thoughts and share these strategies with your friends.
