Ah, the joy of Christmas! the last thing on our minds is eating healthy foods during the holiday season. Most of us are on a hiatus from work or school, salivating over the delicious feast we hope to eat on Christmas day.
Even though we all have a special appreciation for holiday foods such as coconut lime cake, hazelnut shortbread cookies, toasted coconut cookies, and gluten-free dinner rolls, it can be easy to overindulge during the holiday season.
10 Tips For Eating Healthy During Christmas
It does not matter what kind of diet or lifestyle you subscribe to, the truth is incorporating healthy foods in your diet during the holidays is difficult. If you want to eat healthy during the holidays, you must develop a plan of action before you attend holiday events. Use these 10 tips to help you survive the Christmas season.
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Alcohol Oh Alcohol
Most of us have indulged in a beer, cocktail, or glass of wine at a party without the knowledge that alcohol contains a lot of calories. For example, 1 beer contains 99 calories, while a glass of wine contains 83 calories, and a mojito contains 143 calories. It is best to establish an alcohol limit before you head to the party. In addition to this, you can also drink a glass of water or soft drinks after every round of alcohol you drink.
Eat A Healthy Meal Before The Party
Ever went to the grocery store without a list and ended up with a cart full of food you really didn’t need. It’s the same concept as showing up to a party on an empty stomach. Eating healthy goes out of the window and you will eat and eat and eat every appetizer you see. By the time dinner time rolls around, you will be full and miss out on the delicious feast.
Eat a healthy dish before you attend the party. Choose a meal that consists of vegetables, lean protein. Additionally, make sure the serving of protein is small. Avoid meals containing dairy as it keeps you satiated for long periods of time. In addition to this, choose appetizers that feature lean protein, such as meatballs, kabobs, sushi, or shrimp. Stay away from fried foods such as cheese curds and pastries such as pastry braids.
Space, Space, Space
Have you ever stood next to the food table at a party, and before you know it, you’ve shoved another appetizer into your mouth. It is easy to thoughtlessly grab another roll while you are having a conversation as you talk. If you indulge in eating at leisure, eat a piece of gum or a mint to prevent you from eating too many rolls.
Cook Heart-Healthy Foods
If you are in charge of preparing the holiday feast, cook healthy. This is the greatest way to show your relatives and friends that eating healthy is not difficult. You can show them you care about their well-being by preparing a delicious healthy feast.
You don’t have to get rid of classics like turkey, macaroni and cheese, or mashed potatoes. Simply find healthier ways to make the same great dish. For example, you can substitute keto pasta or cauliflower for noodles in macaroni and cheese or make cauliflower mashed potatoes.
Browse Before You Eat
It isn’t easy to monitor what you are eating when you are indulging in finger foods. Browse the entire spread of finger foods before you eat them. Choose vegetables, hummus, or vegetable dips rather than chips or crackers. Vegetables are nutrient-rich and low-calorie foods.
In contrast, if you are a cheese enthusiast, savor the flavor of a few pieces of cheese instead of consuming a large quantity of cheese. Cheese is delicious, but it is also a calorie-rich food and you could easily end up consuming more calories than you intended to.
2 Courses Are Sufficient
Sometimes we can feel like we are missing out on good food. We sample or eat full servings of every course, leading to calorie overload. To prevent this, limit yourself to two courses. For example, you can eat a main course and dessert or an appetizer and a main dish.
Keep It Lean And Colorful
It is very easy to overfill your plate with carb-rich foods such as pasta or rice. However, it is best to choose lean protein and colorful vegetables. If you do consume carbs, you can limit yourself to small servings of carbs. For example, you can have the burger with the bottom bun or wrap it in lettuce. Alternatively, you can have 1 spoon of pasta or rice and fill the remaining portion of the plate with vegetables.
Take A 15 Minute Break
Unfortunately, it takes a couple of minutes for your stomach to communicate with your brain that it’s getting full. After you have consumed your first serving of food, give yourself a 15-minute break to rest. I know it sounds crazy, but you may not be as hungry as you think. You may need a smaller portion of food to feel satisfied, or you may already be full and not know it because the signal has not been sent to the brain yet. Use this 15-minute break to go the bathroom or have a conversation with someone you haven’t seen in a while. Drink a glass of water. After the 15-minute window has closed, you can indulge in a second helping of food if you are still hungry.
Proceed With Caution When Eating Desserts
If you’ve got a sweet tooth eating healthy during Christmas time can be a problem. Rather than eating a serving of dessert by yourself, share it with a friend or relative, or choose a fruit-based dessert such as a spiced fruit bake or a fruit crisp. Desserts usually contain added sugars which are considered empty calories, so choose your desserts wisely.
Socialize Socialize Socialize
Yes, food plays an important role during the holidays, but it is not the only thing that matters. Christmas is truly about spreading love, joy and spending time with the ones you love. So do not forget to have a conversation and create memories with your loved ones.
In Summation
Christmas is the time to celebrate family, friends, and food. It is when we let our hair down and indulge in delicious holiday goodies until our stomachs are full and our hearts are satisfied. For most, eating healthy during the holiday can be challenging. However, you can make it through the Christmas holiday without packing on an extra twenty pounds with a little awareness.
