Guilt and shame can cloud the holiday season when the topic is food. Many people think it’s a yearly battle with only two eating options.
Some go for indulging in holiday meals and forgetting their diet regimes. Others ignore all the delectable food and focus on eating healthy.
At some point, you must also have found yourself at this crossroads during the holidays. With all the planned buffets and multi-course meals, it’s hard to say no and refrain from indulgent eating.
The key is allowing yourself some flexibility during the marvellous time of the year. As Hannah Montana once sang, “You can get the best of both worlds.”
During holidays, it is possible to enjoy delicious food while keeping yourself healthy. Here are several tips for setting healthy eating habits throughout the holidays.
Use Food Substitutes
Before cooking holiday dishes, think of the ingredients you can replace with something healthier. Most traditional holiday dishes use unhealthy condiments. These can lead to weight gain and serious health problems.
So, as much as possible, try not to go for recipes using refined or processed sugars. These include corn syrup, sweeteners, and table sugar.
You can use organic honey to sweeten your desserts instead. You can also use fresh fruits. They have natural sweeteners, which are more nutritious.
Omit or lessen sodium in all your dishes. Too much salt in your body can increase the chances of getting diseases. These include heart enlargement, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and stroke.
The best alternatives for sodium are herbs and spices. They can add flavour to your dish, even if you won’t use salt.
For your meats, instead of going for pork or beef, try using chicken or turkey instead. You can check which parts of the chicken are healthier with your chicken supplier, then use these.
Alcoholic beverages also contain calories that cause weight gain. If you can’t avoid drinking cocktails, try drinking water in-between shots. This can help lessen your caloric intake. Another option is to go for the healthier mocktails.
Refrain from Overeating
It’s difficult to resist the urge to overeat during holiday dinners. But, if you want to stay healthy, you must practice self-discipline.
Start by getting a food portion you can finish. Then, if you can, try sticking to filling up your plate with fruits or vegetables.
Then, don’t forget to go slow in chewing and savouring each bite. Doing this will prevent you from overeating, as your body can give your brain a signal once you’re full.
The same goes for desserts. You should eat in moderation and limit yourself to a small portion.
Stay Hydrated
Before attending holiday gatherings, drink water throughout the day. It will not only keep you hydrated, but it will also give you a feeling of fullness.
Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Hence, it reduces hunger and makes you conscious of what to put on your plate.
Drinking water also helps in burning calories, a recent study suggests. Instead of grabbing a sugar-sweetened beverage, try a bottle of water. This will help you avoid calorie buildup after the holidays.
You should be enjoying the holidays instead of mulling whether you should eat or not. You can still ensure you’re on track with your wellness journey by following these healthy eating habits.
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