Eating Healthy During Holiday Get-Togethers
By Adriana Noton
The holidays are a joyous time that involves celebrating with loved ones. Part of the celebrations often includes eating foods that are high in fat and calories which make the holidays a difficult time to stick to a healthy diet. However, with a little planning, you can eat healthy and not experience a drastic increase in weight gain. Consider the following tips to eating healthy during holiday get-togethers.
1. Avoid Unhealthy Foods: Make a list of foods you want to avoid over the holidays. This can include rich and creamy sauces and soups, sweet desserts, fried foods, and processed meats. Purchase healthy alternatives such as fruit and veggie plates, lean meat, grains, healthy cereals, and other calorie and fat-reduced foods.
2. Reduce Dairy Intake: Some dairy foods are known to be high in calories and fat. Whenever possible, try to substitute high-fat dairy ingredients with other more suitable ingredients in your recipes and in your meals. For example, use low fat cheese products, fat free milk, and use plain yogurt instead of sour cream in your recipes.
3. Healthy Turkey: Turkey is a much healthier meat than red meat. When cooking your turkey, consider healthy cooking methods such as baking and broiling. As well, use a rack to collect the fat. A healthy tip: eat the white meat instead of the dark meat.
4. Healthy Snacks before Big Meals: It is important not to let yourself go hungry before a large meal. You can snack on healthy foods such as carrot sticks and fruit. As well, drink a large glass of water before you eat. This will help prevent you from overeating. Overeating on junk food is a big cause of holiday weight gain. As well, the fiber in healthy foods such as vegetables will help fill you up. Consider salads as a side dish with your main meal. As well, if you are attending restaurants and parties, eat smaller portions.
5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast: A healthy breakfast not only gives you energy for the day, but also controls hunger. Such breakfast foods as eggs, whole wheat toast, fruit, and whole grain cereal will provide much needed energy and you will burn any calories throughout the day. Stay away from the sugar, fried foods, and fat. Foods should be high in protein and nutrient-rich. A healthy tip: Do not skip any meals and practice food serving portion control. Skipping meals will only increase your hunger and cause you to eat more food.
Nearly everyone finds it difficult to eat healthy during the holidays. Trying to follow a specific diet plan is often impossible so it is important to make healthy choices and try to get some exercise daily. Utilizing a plan of moderation and substituting unhealthy foods with healthier foods can make a big difference. Once the holidays are over, you may find a weight gain of only one or two pounds or no weight gain at all. You will definitely look and feel good.
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