Thanksgiving is barely passed and I already feel as though I’m overwhelmed by a slew of decadent treats and warm, fattening meals around the dinner table. As much as we want to eat healthily, the holidays bring out all of the temptations that can disrupt your stomach and your progress towards a goal weight.
The temptations start with Halloween and they just don’t seem to end! Willpower alone often fails us in the face of chocolate confections, pastry perfection, and grandma’s best recipes.
That said, it is possible to maintain a healthy diet during the holidays. Here are my top tips!
6 Strategies for Staying Strong & Eating Well During the Holidays
1) Avoid the baking shows.
I know, this one seems a little silly. However, if my family is sitting and watching the latest season of Great British Baking Show or another baking competition, I can guarantee my craving for sweets will increase. Even if you don’t find yourself inspired to bake something for the household, your chances of wanting a delicious baked sweet are a lot higher. It’s just extra temptation in your path to see professionally crafted and filmed foods.
One of the easiest ways to avoid unhealthy eating is to never put the idea in your head. If you don’t want it or think about it, you’re less likely to pursue it.
2) Don’t keep ingredients on-hand.
How do you avoid mindless munching, comfort food binges, and impulsive baking sessions? You don’t give yourself the opportunity. Don’t let junk food (or the ingredients to make junk food) come near your pantry. Don’t keep brownie and cookie mixes on hand. Ditch the chips. When these things aren’t easy-access, it’s harder to get your hands on them (naturally). I’m not saying never bake holiday cookies or avoid any and all sweets.
What I am saying is save these moments for something special. Bake with and for your family. Take cookies over to a neighbor instead of hoarding them for your household. That said, it’s generally a good rule to save those calories for something truly worth it.
3) Don’t “save room.”
It’s important to eat regularly, even on the days where big meals and parties are planned. We have this idea that calories are simple math. If you don’t spend any, you can devote more to a big event where there will be lots of good food. In theory, yes. In practice, that’s almost never how it turns out. If you are too hungry leading up to the event, you’re much more likely to binge and over-consume later. That means you’ll go over your daily calorie goal anyway.
A better strategy is to have a healthy pre-party snack to help curb your appetite for fattening treats and sugary sweets.
4) Don’t socialize around the snack table.
When you’re trying to do more than one thing, at least one of those items goes to the backburner. If you’re standing by the snack table or hors d'oeuvres, you’re going to keep eating mindlessly while in conversation. Take your snacks away from the source so it’s impossible to eat endlessly.
5) Be mindful of your eating.
We often slack off during the holidays, diet-wise. We figure it won’t add up that much (it always does) so we stop keeping track of just how much we’re eating. If you want to stay on track, you can’t fall into this pattern of thinking. Be mindful. That means stopping when you’re full, namely, while also just paying attention to what and how much you consume.
By the way, this goes for alcohol, too. Alcohol is full of sugars and calories that greatly add up. If you decide to partake, set a limit for yourself going in. Between and afterward, switch to water to wet your whistle.
6) Focus on the right foods.
Being intentional is key to healthy eating. I’m not an advocate for depriving yourself of good food during the holidays. After all, I don’t want to miss out on mom’s pie! However, we have to strike the right balance. You can still enjoy turkey and sweet potato casserole and pie — in moderation. Put your focus and the bulk of your caloric intake of lean, fresh foods and produce. Your plate should be dominated by vegetables, not fattening casseroles. Allow yourself a portion of the “bad” stuff...in moderation.
How do you navigate holiday temptation in order to prioritize health? Share your tips in the comments.