10 Tips to Help You Eat Healthy During Christmas

Certain times of the year are more difficult than others to stick to healthy eating, and the holidays are certainly no exception! With parties, festivities, and traditions mostly centered on an abundance of delicious treats, snacks, and meals, and of course alcohol it’s difficult not to overindulge! While we can’t always escape the temptations there are definitely things we can do this holiday season to eat healthy.

Here are some tips, tricks to help you enjoy the holiday season without all the guilt.

  1. When you are invited to a party, gathering bring some healthy food. Something like a salad, a veggie platter, a fruit salad, or healthy homemade snacks. This ensures that there is at least something healthy to eat! This may be something like:
  • Homemade chocolate balls (based on cacao powder, nuts and coconut oil)
  • Fruit Platter
  • Any number of salads, load up on greens
  • Zuchinni slice
  1. When you know you’ll be out and about Christmas shopping, running errands, or going to festivities, plan ahead and never leave the house without a healthy snack. This way you will not be left starving while out, this is when we are vulnerable to just grab anything (usually high in sugar or processed carbs). Small regular snacks will keep your blood sugar from dipping so you can think straight and make better choices.
  2. On Christmas day, make a balanced and healthy breakfast! Include some fresh fruit and healthy protein. Like yogurt with fruit, or a vegetable omelet. This little bit of protein in the morning will keep you feeling satisfied for longer.
  3. When at parties and gatherings there will be lots of delicious sweet treats available. But before you get to dessert fill your dinner plate full of salad and veges with some seafood, turkey, chicken, protein. That way buy the time dessert comes, you will only be able to fit in a small portion of something sweet. Another little trick, especially if you have a sweet tooth, is to have a cup of herbal tea (or just tea) in between dinner and dessert. This way you will get a chance to feel how full you really are and the conversation had over a cup of tea will fill your cup as well, so you will not need a lot of dessert.
  4. Set goals for yourself and have a support group. Having a friend or family member to set goals with can be a great way to stay motivated and accountable during this particularly tempting time. Make goals like maintaining your workout schedule or avoiding processed sugar during the holidays. Having a friend working towards a goal with you helps you stay focused and on track!
  5. Exercise. Keeping on track with your normal exercise routine making it a priority to exercise regularly this time of year not only helps you stay on track, but also helps decrease your appetite for junk food!
  6. Don’t keep tempting things around the house. Friends and neighbors commonly deliver sweets and treats during this time of year so take a bite or two, but toss the rest (or maybe re-gift it) so it’s not there tempting you to indulge.
  7. Drink plenty of water. Make sure, as you go throughout your day, you are sufficiently hydrated. Even slight dehydration can trick us into thinking we’re hungry, and, therefore, we are more likely to overeat and give in to those treats!
  8. Don’t be afraid to say no. If you know you’ll be going to a party or event that won’t offer any nutritious options, eat before you go. This way you won’t have to turn to the high sugar, high calorie, high fat foods that don’t promote health and fitness.
  9. When it comes to alcohol this can be a harder one for some. Drinking can often lead to overeating too. Some tricks are to ensure you consume low caloric alcohol (maybe mix your own spirits with soda water), drink a glass of water after every alcoholic drink, ensure you eat small healthy protein snacks during. There is also a chance you might get a naughty hangover so what then? Well a couple of charcoal tablets with a large glass of water before bed can help soak up the alcohol, so to some hydrated bentonite before going to bed and upon waking.

With all of that said just remember to enjoy yourself during the holiday periods. Your health is ultimately up to you! And you can be sure that many people around you will appreciate your healthy snacks and behaviors because they will be thinking of doing the exact same.

 

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