If you’re concerned that all your hard work to lose weight will go to the wayside as the holiday season approaches, you need to tailor your diet for the holidays. That can mean a number of things. While some people say save calories before you attend a Christmas dinner and others say eat before you go, there’s a better way to do it. If your meal is a late lunch, like most people have, have a late breakfast that’s filling. Scrambled eggs with veggies and mushrooms, nut butter on toast with a tiny bit of honey and oatmeal with some nuts and fruit will do the trick. You’ll feel full for quite a long time and can dodge the hunger bullet that leads you to high calorie meals.
You don’t have to change your diet, just what you eat first.
Don’t start by loading your plate with all the food, you can always go back for more. Start first with the veggies and low calorie options. Go light on the dip, because that can add pounds. Eat a big salad, then wait for a while visiting with others or walking a bit, to give your body time to tell the brain it’s almost full. Take small portions of the main course and heavier foods, like those mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese. If you have a smaller plate for the salad, use your salad plate for the main course. It will make you think you’re eating more food.
Allow yourself a small dessert.
Seriously, it’s the holidays and sometimes there’s food you won’t get for another year. You can eat those desserts, but in limited amounts. Cut a piece of pie in half as a portion or just get a sliver of it if you’re going to sample all the sweets at the table. Indulge in fresh fruit as much as you please. In fact, start your dessert portion with it. It will taste far sweeter eaten first than it will if it’s following a rich sugary dessert.
Get some exercise with the family.
Whether it’s before or after a meal, taking a walk is a good idea. Walking before the meal can help prevent you from snacking until everyone is there or the meal is completed. Walking afterward not only helps your digestion, it also helps burn off a few calories and gets you away from the tempting food. Again, too often grazing is the real problem. It sometimes comes from boredom, so engage in conversations with others.
- There’s always carbonated drinks and sometimes alcohol at holiday celebrations. Save your calories for food and opt for black coffee, unsweetened tea or water.
- Help keep the whole family fit by making a delicious dish to share that’s both healthy and low in calories.
- Eat slowly. Not only does chewing each spoonful completely help your digestion and slow your food intake, it helps get the message to your brain of fullness and you feel fuller eating less.
- If you find you’ve tried but failed and simply ate everything in sight, remember that tomorrow is a new day and get back to healthy eating again.