Healthy Eating Tips For The Holidays

It’s that time of year when we wave the white flag of surrender and give up our healthy habits without a thought which ruins our weight loss achievements and crushes our willpower too, but it doesn't have to be this way. By approaching the next few weeks with a can-do attitude, you can weather the calorie storm, enjoy the down time and feel great. Here are a few simple tips to get you through the holidays:

Don't Come Hungry to a Holiday Meal - During the next few weeks, you will be invited to many tasty meals. A classic mistake is not eating all day long to make room for all the tasty treats awaiting you. However, this strategy always backfires. Why? Because you haven’t eaten all day and now the awaited meal is in front of you and you eat it and then reach for seconds. Sound familiar? Stick to your healthy eating routine before enjoying a holiday meal so you won’t be tempted to overeat.

Start With Water - Start all meals and parties by making sure you are properly hydrated. This will help reduce your overall caloric intake.

Be Selective - Many holiday meals and parties are buffet style, with a dozen or two options to lump onto your plate. They are not all the same quality. Before filling your plate, get a bird's eye view of what's available and decide to choose only a few of the most appetizing dishes.

Celebrate on the Actual Holiday - Although the holiday season is a few weeks long, most of the time is technically not a holiday, just regular work days. Save you caloric celebrations for the few days that are actual holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

Healthy Routines - Continue with your healthy routines – healthy eating, exercise or updating your food diary, keep at it. Don't let Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve  derail you for more than a day or two. Getting back to your regular routine fast will help you stay on track.

Staying mindful to the risks of holiday overeating can increase your chances of weathering this holiday season without significant weight fluctuations and until next time, stay happy, healthy and beautiful!