Avoid Holiday Weight Gain with These Healthy Holiday Tips

With Halloween behind us, you’re likely coming down from that trick-or-treat candy sugar high. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a Thanksgiving family meal or a holiday party with friends. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, pie, gingerbread cookies, candy canes, and libations galore await you this holiday season. Unfortunately, while enjoying these delicious food and drinks during the holiday season, many people tend to lose their willpower and pack on a few extra pounds. But, by following these simple tips, you can avoid holiday weight gain without sacrificing taste or fun with friends and family:

-  Don’t skip a meal so that you can eat more at a party and don’t forget to drink water. Instead, be sure to eat a snack of vegetables or fruit and drink plenty of water before heading out to a holiday party – this will help you to eat less while you’re mingling.

-  Be mindful of how many alcoholic drinks you are consuming. Many libations are packed with calories and sugar, and drinking more will lower your inhibitions and could cause you to overeat. If you are drinking alcohol, remember to alternate each drink with a glass of water. Be wary of non-alcoholic drinks, too! Punches and cider are sugary and high in calories, as well.

-  Bring your own food (to share) to parties, and opt to make a healthier dish. That way, you know you’ll have at least one healthy option. Scour Google and Pinterest to find delicious, healthy holiday recipes. Consider healthy holiday swaps like these:

• Apple sauce instead of oil
• Coconut oil instead of butter
• Unsweetened almond milk instead of dairy milk
• 70% dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate
• Two egg whites instead of one egg
• Greek yogurt instead of sour cream

-  When putting together your plate of food at a dinner event or party, be sure your choices are balanced. Don’t skip the mashed potatoes and stuffing, but don’t forget your salad, vegetables and protein, either.

-  Eat until you are full, not until you have to loosen your belt or can’t get up off the couch. It’s fine to have one or two cookies, but don’t over indulge to the point where you don’t feel well.

-  Stock your desk with healthy snack options so you’re not as tempted to devour all the holiday treats that your co-workers will surely bring in to share.

-  And finally, schedule time to keep moving! This could be getting up once an hour to take a walk around the office, or committing to go to the gym at a specific time on certain days. No matter what you decide, stick to it! Work your activity schedule around your holiday plans so you have no excuses not to exercise.