Healthy Holiday Eating

16 tips to stay on track!

The Holidays are here!

The holidays are here and of course I’ve got some holiday diet advice, and an announcement! I’m super excited to be launching the first in a series of healthy lifestyle programs. The first one is highly relevant to the season and the times we live in, and it’s called 7 Day Reset! Who doesn’t need a reset right now? Check it out here.

So, how are you going to stay calm, eat healthy and maintain your workouts? The holidays present some challenges for all of us. There is always an abundance of delicious treats, snacks and foods to tempt most of us off track.

Here are 16 easy tips to stay on track during the crazy holiday season:

Don’t arrive at your holiday party on an empty stomach. We are all tempted to skip a meal so you can save the calories for the treats, but don’t! Eat a healthy meal before you go, and you will be less likely to binge on unhealthy treats.
Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch instead of saving your carbs for the big dinner later on. When we skip meals, our blood sugar drops and we start to crave those empty calorie cookies.
Always eat the healthy foods at the party first, so you don’t over do it on the main course.
Limit the number of servings of starchy foods, such as mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and bread with butter. Take a small serving so you may taste it and not deprive yourself.
Choose vegetables if they are steamed or grilled. Avoid vegetables with cream, gravy or butter.
Stick to calorie-free drinks, such as seltzer, tea, flavored waters instead of punch or mixed drinks.Alcohol is full of empty calories and gets stored as fat.
Try not to sit next to the snack table or within arms reach of the appetizers.
Bring your own food. Or contribute a healthy dish that you can serve yourself. Try this one!
Take a walk after the holiday meal to aid in your digestion. Exercise will keep you focused on your goals and distract you from the leftovers on the table.
If you do overindulge, don’t beat yourself up, get back on track the next day and make sure you get your workouts in.
Drink a healthy shake or two a day during the holiday season.This can help you get your essential nutrients and keep the calories down. Here are a couple of seasonal recipes to get you in the mood. Chocolate Pumpkin Shake, Apple Pie Shake.
Still count your calories. If you still count your calories, it is easier to not go off the deep end. Here is a calorie counter to help you keep track.
Keep healthy snacks with you at all times, so you are never starving. That will help you avoid the mad dash for the candy bowl.
Bake Healthier, try these Pumpkin Spice Protein Bars, Salted Carmel Protein Bars.
Take some me time away from stressful holiday activities and family. We all need a little down time, especially during times like the holidays. Try a relaxing bath, meditation or sneak away for a blissful massage.
Sweat out your stress! Get your exercise in no matter what. It not only burns off those holiday treats, it helps our moods, anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. Even if you only get in 15 minutes, it will be a tremendous mood booster.