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7 Smart Eating Strategies for Holiday Eating

December 9, 2015 Leave a Comment

And so it seems we’re off! Yes the office parties, school Carol services, Christmas Fairs, Support Group celebrations and even the slimming club Christmas jaunts are full steam ahead. All well ahead of the big celebration but all testing your willpower and resolve to stay on track.

It’s hard to maintain your willpower and your healthy lifestyle at this time of the season but if you follow these tips for managing eating at parties and other holiday gatherings you’ll have a good chance of emerging unscathed and no heavier come the New Year ….

 

Santa Claus slippers on weight scales

 

7 Smart-Eating Strategies for the Holiday Season

 

The holiday season is always filled with tasty temptations, so it’s not surprising that seasonal party fare, including decadent desserts, can lead to overdoing it in the diet department if you’re not careful. Even people who maintain a healthy weight tend to gain about a pound between Thanksgiving and the New Year, while studies show that those who are overweight can put on 5 pounds or more during these five festive weeks. We can help you stay on track with these smart strategies ….

 

Start every day right

It’s all too easy to lose sight of a healthy eating plan at holiday time when the stresses of shopping and party planning begin to take their toll. An important way to sustain your energy and avoid overeating is to never skip breakfast. Studies show that people who skip a morning meal tend to eat more poorly throughout the day than those who eat breakfast, and they also exercise less. The best breakfast consists of some lean protein and fibre. Both help stabilize your blood sugar and keep you feeling satisfied until at least mid-morning, when you should enjoy your first snack of the day if you need it. Consider an omelette made with chopped vegetables, reduced-fat cheese, or salmon. Or, on those days when you must resort to a grab-and-go breakfast, combine some fat-free Greek yogurt with some blueberries and sliced natural almonds or pack a smoothie made with silken tofu and mixed berries. My personal favourite is porridge made in our Bariatric Portion, Cook and Serve Cup (see here).
 
sass and belle cupstaco quiches and porridge 037

 

Don’t skimp to “save up” for a big, multi-course meal

Skipping meals and snacks so you can eat more at your holiday dinner is a strategy that almost always ends up backfiring. You’ll be much better off eating a healthy breakfast and lunch, as well as a protein- and fibre-rich mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack, so you won’t be famished when you do sit down to eat. If you don’t have time to prepare a healthy snack, enjoy a protein bar like our USN Protein Delite Bar (see here).
 
usn protein delice 50g bars

Eat before a party

If you’re heading to a holiday party and you’re concerned about losing control around the canapés and other hors d’oeuvres, have a snack consisting of some lean protein (like some reduced-fat yogurt or a couple of slices of turkey breast) and a fibre-rich carbohydrate (like some fruit or a few whole-grain crackers) before you head out. This smart-eating strategy will help keep your blood sugar levels in check and temptation and cravings on hold. If you’re really worried about what might be served at the party, ask if you can bring your own healthy party fare, such as a platter of crudités with hummus or another WLS-friendly dip.
 
PARTY ANTIPASTO 005

Evaluate your food options

Before you even pick up a plate at any food-filled gathering, survey the scene and know what your options are. Make a mental note of the different selections, and then seek out the dishes made with the healthiest ingredients. Look for lean meat, poultry, or seafood and healthy vegetable and whole-grain side dishes, and take reasonable servings of each. Be sure to steer clear of dishes that are coated with cream sauce, or prepared with added sugar. If a choice of plates is available, choose a small one, about the size of our Bariatric Portion Plate (see here) rather than a large one; it’s a good way to keep your portions in check.
 
christmas plate for html

Make WLS-friendly dishes

Whether you’re throwing a holiday event or bringing a dish to contribute to one, the best way to ensure that there’s WLS-fare available is to prepare your own versions of your favourite recipes or make one of the healthy and delicious
dishes using the recipe finder on our website (on the home page) using the search bar. Try any number from our Christmas Newsletter collections – they’re all crowd-pleasers!
 
christmas-pudding1
 

Go easy on the alcohol

For many people, egg nog, seasonal cocktails, wines paired with holiday dinners, and champagne flutes clinking at midnight on New Year’s Eve are all a part of the holiday festivities. While enjoying an occasional cup of holiday cheer is fine on a healthy diet, it’s important to drink moderately and never on an empty stomach especially after WLS. When you do imbibe, do so while enjoying an hors d’oeuvre, while eating a meal, or right afterwards. Follow your Bariatric Team’s advice on this one. Be sure anyway to pass on any cocktails made with sugary soda or simple sugar syrup and enjoy a glass of red or white wine or extra-brut champagne instead and sip very, very slowly. Cheers!
 
alcohol at Christmas

Enjoy dessert…in moderation

What’s a holiday meal without a slice of pie or cake for dessert? Enjoying a decadent dessert on a special occasion can be really satisfying, and there’s no need to feel guilty about it afterwards, especially if the rest of your meal was filled with nutritious choices. Simply request a very small serving of dessert and savour it slowly. And keep the “Three-Bite Rule” in mind: Take three bites and then put the dessert aside for a few minutes; you’ll likely find that you are satisfied with just that amount of sweetness. After the holidays are over, resume your regular healthy eating habits and make dessert an occasional treat.
 
Cheesecake

 

 

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Tags: alcohol. drinks, breakfast, christmas, dessert, party, snacks Categories: Coping mechanisms, Seasonal Food

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