Tips for Holiday Eating-Without Overdoing It
added 12/14/11
by Tracey Hull, Dietetic Intern
From Halloween until New Years, and even to Valentine’s Day, it seems that the holidays are one giant 10-week stretch of over-indulgence. Then it hits you: New Year’s resolution. How come the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight? Because we feel like we just ate enough to sustain a small army for the whole next year. We feel guilty, upset, tired from all of the cooking, cleaning, wrapping, and the continuous sugar-highs.
These tips can help you to successfully navigate your next holiday social gathering, so you can enjoy this season and celebrations throughout the year without the guilt from overeating.
- At a social gathering: be social! You’re there to mingle and talk. When you talk more and enjoy the conversation, you will think about food less and eat less.
- Have a snack before you go, this will mean you won’t be famished and will be better able to make sensible decisions.
- Be aware of portion size: an easy way to cut back is to use a smaller plate. Oftentimes we eat with our eyes, and when a plate looks full, no matter the size, we feel more satisfied. If you’re still hungry when you finish your plate, then consider seconds.
- Fill half your plate with vegetables and the other half with meat and a starch. Vegetables bulk up your plate without being full of calories (be aware of those covered in butter, cheese, or a cream sauce)
- After getting your selections, stand away from the snack table. It is too easy to keep eating if you are right near the easy to grab finger foods.
- Be a choosy eater. Try what looks the best and most delicious to you. You can have chips any day, but some holiday foods are only around at the holidays, so focus on these seasonal delights. You don’t need to try everything just because it’s there.
- Bring something healthy to the party, that way you will be guaranteed to have a good, sensible choice available.
- Watch the alcohol. Alcohol can be loaded with calories and fat, and often stimulates your appetite and decreases your ability to make good choices. If you want to have a drink, do so, but be aware, and drink water or a diet soda in between alcoholic beverages. Especially be aware of eggnog. Eggnog has around 225 calories and 10 grams of fat per cup. This is before adding any alcohol.
