When you hear Jingle Bells for the first time on the radio each holiday season you know it means several things…diets and healthy eating seem to go flying out the window. When the days come creeping closer, prepare yourself ahead of time, so that those unwanted pounds don’t come creeping either. No one likes to get a pair of Santa’s full, rosey cheeks for Christmas. I know it isn’t fair to post a recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies right next to one that tells you to eat healthy. But, let’s face it, the holidays are typically about overindulging, it just doesn’t have to be that way.
1. By planning ahead, you can put in a few extra minutes per walk and eat healthy meals on before and after a party. Don’t go to a party starving! You’ll grab the first schnitzel you see without thinking about it. If you’re the party host, you can choose serve lighter fare and use smaller plates to help control portion sizes.
2. Mind your p’s and q’s! Drinkable calories still count as calories! If you’re going to imbibe, be aware of what’s in it. Low-cal options include diet soda (with or without a mixer), white wine, or seltzer water with a splash of lemon or lime. Watch out for high-cal counterparts: eggnog, beer, and sugary drinks like punch.
3. Pick healthier options from the menu and spend your extra calories carefully. If Auntie Martha’s homemade truffle cake makes you weep with joy, don’t fill your plate with Uncle Bert’s so-so Bean Dip. You’ll enjoy what you really like instead of what you don’t care much for.
4. Incognito calories – Watch out for healthy foods swimming high-fat sauces, dips and cheeses. Good-for-you celery turns into a caloric nightmare when covered in creamy dip.
5. Watch out for sneak attacks! If your diet is going along great until a giant pile of snicker doodles appears in the break room at work, be sure you have something available to snack on that won’t undo your hard work – some almonds or a small apple will help take the edge off your appetite and curb the cookie panic.
6. Remember, your overall health is determined by your long-term choices throughout the year. The menorah’s packed away and the Christmas tree has become fertilizer, but you don’t want to be left with five or ten pounds of holiday memory around your middle.
Armed with these tips, you’ll be ready for all your upcoming wing dings. Merry Christmas, Mazel Tov, and bon appetit!
Photo courtesy of Zimbio
Tips courtesy of AP
Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!
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