Eating Healthy During the Holidays

Eating Healthy During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for celebration and family gatherings. For many, it’s also a time when we tend to indulge in festive, delicious foods that can easily derail our healthy eating habits. But it doesn’t have to be this way! With a few simple tips and tricks, you can enjoy the holiday flavors without sacrificing your health. Let’s look at how you can enjoy the holidays while eating healthier.

Make Smart Food Choices

 

When it comes to food choices during the holidays, there are plenty of healthier options available. Instead of fried foods or processed snacks, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible. You can also choose lean proteins like poultry or fish over fatty cuts of beef or pork. If you’re cooking something special for dinner, try using olive oil instead of butter and low-fat milk products whenever possible. And if you’re feeling ambitious, why not give vegan dishes a try? There are tons of delicious vegan recipes online that are sure to please even the most discerning palette!

 

Be Realistic About Portions

It’s important to remember that portion sizes matter—especially during the holidays! We often eat more than we need because we want to make sure there’s enough food for everyone at our gathering. However, this can lead us down an unhealthy path if we’re not careful about how much we put on our plates each time we eat. Try to be mindful about how much food you’re taking and stick with smaller portions as much as possible. This way, you won’t feel guilty about indulging in those special holiday desserts!

Avoid Boredom Eating

One of the biggest temptations during any holiday season is boredom eating. We often find ourselves snacking on unhealthy treats or overeating because we don’t have anything else to do. To avoid this, try to plan activities that will keep you away from food for at least part of the day. Take walks, play games with family members, or just get out and explore your surroundings—it’s easy to lose track of time when you’re having fun! If you find yourself bored, try drinking water or herbal tea instead of reaching for junk food.

 

More detail suggestion (From Healthline.com)

 

1) Find healthy alternatives to your favorite dishes

You can use less butter and bacon in green bean casseroles, yogurt instead of mayonnaise in the devilled eggs, and bake the turkey instead of deep frying it.

2) It’s all about moderation

Moderation will be your saving grace during the holiday season.

3) Add more vegetables

Increase the number of vegetable dishes on the dinner table, finding small twists to dress them up without making them unhealthy.

4) Slow down during meals

While the decadent food might make us eager to eat, a key tip to staying healthy over the holidays is to slow down during mealtime.

5) Take a walk after dinner

Walking after a meal can give you several distinct benefits.

6) Don’t forgo exercise

There’s a million other things to do, and if you’re away from your home gym, working out can seem even more difficult.

7) Try to stick to your typical sleep schedule

This can be particularly challenging with the increase in parties and family in town. But sticking to your sleep schedule will improve your quality of sleep both now and after the holidays.

8) Take time for yourself

The holidays are full of family and friends, and while this can be a great thing, it can also be draining and stressful. Whether you’re staying with family over the holidays or just attending a large number of events, remember to take time every day for yourself.

 

Conclusion

Enjoying all that the holiday season has to offer doesn’t mean giving up on healthy eating habits altogether; rather it means being mindful about what types of foods you consume and how much of them you eat each day. By making smart food choices and avoiding boredom eating, it’s possible to enjoy all the flavors and festivities without sacrificing your health in the process! So go ahead – dig into those delicious dishes without guilt this holiday season!

 

Happy Holidays! & Merry Christmas!