Healthy Habits: Eating Healthy During the Holidays

If you’ve always loved the holiday season because it’s your once-a-year chance to feast on goodies like marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, honey-glazed ham or homemade Christmas cookies, you may have a hard time following your doctor’s advice to eat healthily at this time of year. But it’s possible to celebrate the holidays while enjoying yourself and honoring your commitment to your health. Here’s how to arm yourself to eat healthily while focusing on the joy of the season from RetailMeNot. Thanksgiving with family It can be hard to resist sampling all of the tempting dishes that you’ve loved since childhood, especially if a relative who equates food with love guilts you into indulging in all of the foods that she prepared with you in mind. if you’re determined to eat healthily: Fill half your plate with vegetables to crowd out less healthy options.  Help the host serve and clear the table, so you’ll be seated in front of your plate for a shorter period of time. Arm yourself against relatives who want you to abandon your healthy eating habits by reminding them that you’re avoiding certain foods now; it may help if you say that their food looks and smells delicious, so they’ll feel appreciated.  Use the holiday to connect and catch up with the people who mean the most to you, rather than overindulging. Temptations at work You’ll be less likely to snack on goodies if you eat meals at set times and drink water throughout the day, because thirst is often mistaken for hunger. When you decide to indulge, take a small serving and eat it slowly and mindfully, savoring every bite, focusing entirely on the experience, instead of scarfing it down while you’re distracted by your work or even YouTube videos. You’re more likely to be satisfied by the single serving, and you won’t feel that you’ve missed out on anything.

Holiday parties Whether it’s the office mixer or the wine-and-cheese that your neighbors throw every year, you know that there will be a table filled with appetizers and an open bar, with appealing finger foods and cocktails. Without a game plan, you can easily abandon your healthy eating goals. Prepare for parties by eating a healthy snack at home: You won’t be famished when you arrive, which could lead to overeating. After you arrive and mingle a bit, make yourself a plate of appetizers, loading it first with healthy items (fruits and vegetables) so there’s less room for heavier fare. Step away from the table, so you don’t hover and keep picking at the food. Dance, do karaoke or participate in another fun activity, so that you don’t head back for food out of boredom. And limit yourself to one drink so that you don’t lower your inhibitions, especially if you’re at a work function. Hosting your own holiday party or meal When you’re in charge of the menu, it’s easier to incorporate dishes that meet your dietary needs, whether that means serving sweet potatoes without the butter and marshmallows or compromising by making the traditional dish that everyone’s expecting, plus some healthier roasted yams for anyone who wants them. Here's how to keep it healthy: Hunt online for recipes that tweak the traditional dishes that you usually serve so that they meet your dietary requirements.  Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables, so that you can fill half your plate with them, which leaves less room for the foods that you should eat in moderation. Include some whole grains on the menu – brown or wild rice instead of white, rye or whole-wheat rolls instead of white. At dessert, serve a fruit platter, so that you aren’t tempted to nibble on too many sweets. When you’re cleaning up, enlist the help of someone you trust to help you refrigerate or freeze the leftovers right away so that you don’t pick at the food while it’s sitting on your kitchen counter. And send your guests home with plates of cookies and slices of cake or pie, so that you won’t have tempting desserts in your home.