To me the winter holidays are about family, friends, and
food. And while I don’t think I can get
too much of the first two this year, the third one has me concerned. Everywhere I turn there is food, some of it
really tasty and some of it not worth a second thought.
Making healthy food choices can be hard at anytime. So while healthy eating and the holidays may
not be an oxymoron, it can be particularly challenging when gatherings and
gifts abound. To help navigate this
challenge, here are ten things we can do to get the most out of the wonderful
food of the season without getting too much food.
- Drink lots of water. It fills you up and has the added
benefit of keeping your skin moist. - Keep healthy snacks around. I love vegetables and even
in the winter find that if I can snack on raw broccoli or pepper strips I can
get some of the “crunch” factor of chips etc. - Don’t forget the lean protein. Protein can help to fill you up.
- Low-fat or non-fat dairy products such as skim milk or
non-fat yogurt offer the added benefit of calcium for strong bones. - Ask yourself if you really want something. Holiday
buffets are particularly dangerous because there is so much choice; I need to
be sure something is what I really want. - Make it and serve it yourself. You can control the
ingredients (anyone for less oil) and the portion size (no, you don’t need the
whole plate full). - Ask is this hunger or boredom (or stress, or
anxiety)? If it hunger, what’s the best
choice you can make? If it isn’t what
else can I do? - Find something to do with your hands. I knit and
sometimes picking up a project and working a few rows will take my mind off the
food. Besides, who wants to ruin good
yarn with crumbs? - Exercise. What is there to say, it’s good for you on so
many levels. - Enjoy what you eat. Make the healthy choice the tasty choice and
don’t be afraid to indulge just a little.
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