Healthy Tips for the Holidays

‘Tis the season (to be hungry?)! It sure is easy to over-indulge this time of year. In fact, the 37 days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can be the MOST damaging to people’s health — not to mention waistlines! Keep your diet in check this time of year with a few healthy tips for the holidays from the GLRCC team.

 

Eat a healthy snack to curb your appetite

If you are looking to celebrate the season without gaining weight, here’s a tip to keep your holiday party hunger at bay. GLRCC tip: Before going out, eat a healthy snack to curb your appetite.

 

Bring a healthy dish to pass

Here’s another one for those trying to figure out how to enjoy the holiday season and keep their waistline in check. GLRCC tip: Take a vegetable dish, mixed green salad or a more traditional holiday dish and modify it to reduce calories, fat, and/or sugar. Chances are nobody will even notice and you’ll be guaranteed to have at least one healthy option to choose from.

 

Spend your calories wisely

Budget your daily calories wisely. Don’t eat everything at your holiday parties. Instead, here’s our GLRCC tip: Be choosy and spend calories judiciously on things that you love. Instead of eating the whole piece of pecan pie, how about just a sliver? Or try applying the three-bite rule: Limit yourself to just three bites. Why? According to clinical psychologist Jean Kristeller, PhD, “Our taste buds are chemical sensors that tire quickly,” she says. “The first few bites of a food taste better than the next few bites, and after a large amount, we may have very little taste experience left at all.”

 

Pause before taking seconds

Our next trick is for those times when you think you want an additional helping. GLRCC tip: Take a timeout before taking seconds. It takes a few minutes for your “I’m getting full” signal to reach your brain. After finishing your helping, take a ten-minute break. Make conversation, have a drink of water, then recheck your appetite. You might realize you are full or only want a small portion of seconds.

 

Keep the focus off of the meal

This next one is so important. Pay attention to what really matters. GLRCC Tip: Keep your holiday focus off of the meal and on what is truly important. Although food is an integral part of the holidays, put the focus on family, friends, laughter and cheer. If balance and moderation are your usual guides, it’s okay to indulge and overeat once in a while. 

 

Walk off the calories

Instead of sitting around and feeling full, why not put on your walking shoes? GLRCC tip: Go for a brisk walk. Walking is a great way to work off some of your holiday calories. If you are at a family gathering, suggest a walk before the feast or even between dinner and dessert. 

 

Rethink your holiday drink

A hidden sabotager this time of the year is all of the sugary drinks. GLRCC tip: Rethink your drink this holiday season to limit the excess of calories. Did you know that some of our favorite holiday drinks will really pack on the pounds? Check the calorie count in 8 ounces of these holiday favorites:

8 ounces eggnog (non-alcoholic) ↠ 343 calories

8 ounces peppermint mocha with whipped cream  ↠  273 calories

8 ounces white russian ↠ 549 calories

8 ounces hot chocolate with whipped cream ↠ 240 calories

8 ounces coffee with Kahlua and whipped cream ↠ 175 calories

8 ounces red wine ↠ 192 calories

 

Looking for more ways to mind your health over the holidays? Check out our blog 5 Ways To Enjoy Healthier Holidays