How to celebrate the holidays without compromising your health.
Happy Holidays!
The holidays are upon us again, and if you are like most people, it ends with weight gain and resolutions to “get healthy” starting January 2nd. Unfortunately, most people don’t lose the weight they gained, which adds to further frustration and more weight gain.
What if there is a way to enjoy the holidays and special foods without the weight gain and the guilt? It can happen with the right attitude and strategies in place.
Choose Strategically
“Use the holidays for connecting with family and loved ones.”
Our Top Holiday Eating Strategies
Focus on connecting with family and friends while honoring your choice to have a healthy life. It’s not what you can’t have, it’s what you can be.
- Never go to a party hungry! You will not be able to control your cravings and food choices if you arrive at the party starving. Instead, eat a fatty, high protein meal 1-2 hours before the party. This will allow you to mingle and socialize without first heading to the buffet table and overindulging. ( MORE IN-DEPTH HERE)
- Bring a low carb selection. If you are attending dinner, bring a low carb side dish or dessert (I usually bring both!) If it’s a cocktail party bring a meat and cheese board or a cheese based dip with veggies.
- Save the carbs for last. Try to fill up on salad and non-root vegetables first, followed by the protein. According to Dr. Jason Fung, by eating the fat and protein first, you are decreasing your hunger hormones and increasing your satiation hormones. If you eat the carbs first, you spike your insulin and your hunger hormones, therefore, you are much more likely to overindulge. Also, you will force yourself to digest the carbohydrates a bit slower by filling up on all of the fat and vegetable fiber first. You may find that you eat less of the carbohydrates because you are too full for them!
- Drink Mindfully. I choose not to drink alcohol because it usually lowers inhibitions, and leads to poor food choices. If you do want a drink, enjoy one with some meat and cheese or a handful of nuts. It lowers the glucose impact, and slows the alcohol effect. Keep it to one drink, and follow the drink with water. I usually have a glass of sparkling water in my hand with a lime or lemon floating in it. It looks like I’m having a drink, and it keeps me hydrated. I also bring beverages that won’t derail me such as Hopps Water or my favorite seltzer water.
- Eat a hearty breakfast if you’re cooking. Remember those BLTs I mentioned earlier? This strategy will prevent all those BLTs. Think eggs with some avocado and bacon, or lox on cucumbers with cream cheese. This way you will cook without constantly spiking your blood sugar.
- Have some apple cider vinegar. Before getting to the party or restaurant, my husband and I will have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a tall glass of water. This will dramatically lower the glucose impact of a meal or drinks. If possible, sprinkle vinegar on your veggies and carbs. It’s an easy strategy with a huge metabolic impact. If you are traveling, fill a travel mug with your apple cider vinegar water and sip it once you get to the celebration.
Celebrate by Connecting
Ultimately, the purpose of the holidays is to celebrate a special time with our friends and loved ones. Focus on the connection, not the food. Go for winter hikes together, shop together, go ice skating, play games, or simply sit around a fire and tell stories. In the end, you won’t derail all of your healthy accomplishments, and best of all, imagine what your resolutions can become.
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