Between
gifts of cookies and fudge to attending abundant holiday parties to
dinners full of holiday favorites, it can be easy to justify a few extra
treats here and there during the holiday
season.
But
sugar is the most abused drug in the United States, responsible for
making us the second most obese country in the world (second only to
Mexico), and the primary negative factor to many health issues, says
Andrea Szebeni, a registered nutritionist and dietician
with the Lighthouse Recovery Institute.
Neurologically,
sugar is a stimulant that keeps us craving it the more it is eaten,
says Szebeni. "This is why during the holidays once we overindulge once,
it leads us to believe we have
failed once again and we may just as well start the diet after the
holidays," Szebeni says.
Szebeni,
who helps young women overcome eating disorders, provides these four
tips for enjoying your favorite treats this holiday season without going
overboard:
·
Be realistic -
Telling yourself you will never have another candy cane when it is your
favorite holiday treat is probably not realistic, Szebeni says. The key
is setting guidelines. For example, if you have three holiday parties in
two days, don’t try every dish and every
cookie at each party.
·
Plan ahead - Have a light snack before you leave the house so you are not hungry, which could make it easier to justify bad choices.
·
Make things easier for yourself - Instead bringing wine or more sweets, bring a dish that’s healthy and delicious, Szebeni suggests. Be the hit of the party
by bringing a pumpkin dip with vegetables or freshly baked parmesan kale chips with apples, cheese squares and blackberries.
·
Detox your taste buds
- Over time we adapt to eating foods that are high fat, high salt or
high sugar, which literally erode our taste buds, Szebeni says. The
good news is that you can renew your taste buds. Try abstaining from
processed foods and hyperpalatable choices even for just one week. “As
you begin to incorporate back certain foods that you enjoy but know
should be limited, you’ll see that by only eating
them periodically you will still enjoy them without feeling the need to
overindulge,” Szebeni says.
Inconsistent nutritional habits also contribute to sugar cravings, says Szebeni, who
has a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition. “Eat every 4 to 4½ hours and watch those cravings go away,” Szebeni says.
About Lighthouse Recovery Institute
Lighthouse
Recovery Institute (www.lighthouserecoveryinstitute.com)
is a licensed drug, alcohol and eating
disorder treatment center in Delray Beach, Fla., specializing in
recovery for women. At the Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our mission is
to help each client attain peace, happiness and permanent sobriety.
With more than 30 years of experience in the treatment
of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, eating disorders and trauma, our
passionate team of doctors, therapists, and specialists provide nothing
but the highest quality of care for every woman who walks through our
doors.
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