Healthier Holiday Celebrations
Who is ready for the Holidays? What plans do we have? Are we going out of town? Cooking for a group, or going to family/friends? Celebrations usually come with food, and with cooler weather, and reasons for get togethers approaching, managing our weight could be challenging.
What are some ways we can avoid overeating and gaining more weight? Let’s discuss:- Arriving hungry before a party is a big mistake , as we later over-eat. Try a low fat yogurt, fresh fruit, or a whole grain cereal and low-fat milk before-hand; How about bringing some healthy holiday food to the gathering? Ask the host/ess first, though! Choose a simple dish, for example, a fruited salad, almondine string beans, or baked fruit.; We could fill our plate with a meat dish, and mostly vegetables, while eating smaller portions, and savoring each bite. There will be leftovers to take home for another meal! ; Limit high sugar beverages to a single drink- try lemon water, lowfat milk, or sugar-free beverages, and as coffee and water are dehydrating, drink plenty water to keep full, and not hungry enough to eat as much.; At the buffet table, try cutting back on fats and oils when possible; limit salts as in ketchup and soy sauce; choose foods that are baked, grilled or steamed; some low-fat alternatives include the following:-Lowfat milk, sorbet, plain lowfat yogurt, lowfat creamer, wheat pasta, brown rice, bran flakes, lower fat hot dogs, chicken, turkey, fish, beans/lentils, Angel Food cake, light popcorn, fruits and vegetables, applesauce or prune puree to replace oil or butter in baking, etc. Try some of these replacements! Over time, we will not miss the calories, we’ll feel better for making some healthier food choices, and still be able to enjoy delicious foods!
Be aware of food allergens! With so many foods around, they have so many ingredients, we may not be sure of all what’s in it. Just ask the host/ess/preparer. Be assertive- don’t let anyone force you to take seconds or third helpings- you will have to deal with the effects afterwards. In addition, don’t feel compelled to clear your plate, or over-fill your plate. In fact, using a smaller plate could help to regulate food portions.
Finally, how about moving around after dinner? Dominos, card games, charades, catch, football, gaming system, are great ways to interact and burn some calories. Also, a walk around the neighborhood aids digestion, distracts us from snacks on the counter, and discourages afternoon naps.
Now that we are armed with this information, are we going to be able to make better food choices during the holidays? Some effort is better than none… And remember to enjoy your time together with family and friends!
Let’s Eat to Live, and not Live to Eat!
Contributor; Mrs.Stacey Henry-Arnold. MSc