From the end of November all the way until the beginning of January, the holidays become a norm for almost everyone. While holidays are great times to spend with family and friends, they can also throw you way off course, especially if you’re looking to lose weight, maintain your current weight, or stick to your diet. The fact is that eating during the holidays can be a disaster as pumpkin pies, Christmas cookies, and other high calorie foods are bound to be readily available. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and tricks to keep in mind to ensure that you’re able to eat healthy over the holidays and not pack on a ton of weight, if any at all.
Try to Eat before the Holiday Meals Begin
Eating a healthy snack before attending a holiday party is definitely a wise idea. This way you’re able to eat something that is good for you which means that you’re not only eating healthy, but you’re able to full a bit fuller which will more than likely allow you to fill up on even less food once the party begins. Eat an apple, some carrots, a protein shake, or something else that will keep hunger at bay, is healthy, and won’t fill you up completely.
Don’t Deprive Yourself
When there’s a table full of yummy food, it can be definitely hard to say no altogether. Instead of completely skipping any holiday meals this year, your best bet is to avoid depriving yourself. To make the holidays truly happy and healthy, focus on smaller portions. Instead of using a big dinner plate, use a smaller plate so that you aren’t able to fit so much food into one portion. Remember to focus on your proteins and veggies, but there’s nothing wrong with a small serving of something outside of your diet guidelines.
Bring a Healthy Dish to the Party
Most of the time holiday parties involve everyone bringing their own dish. If you’re asked to bring a dish from home, be sure that the one you make is healthy. This way, you know for sure that the item you have brought isn’t too calorie dense and won’t completely through you off track. Instead of bringing a dessert, focus on a side item for the main meal.
In the end, holidays and healthy eating can definitely go hand-in-hand. Just because you’re focusing on a better and healthier lifestyle doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy this year’s festivities. Keep these tips in mind and you’re bound to stay on track.