“Tis the season to be jolly, time to eat, drink and be merry. And that’s great; most people love the holidays: time to relax; take a little time for you, your friends and family. On average, Americans put on around a pound over the holidays. Some put on far more, while others even lose weight. So if you don’t want a little round belly that shakes when you laugh like a bowlful of jelly, here are a few tips to help you to have a healthy holiday and avoid weight gain:
Be picky at parties. We’ve all been there: you get to a party, have a couple of drinks and then they bring out the buffet. You’re hungry and faced with a mountain of tempting treats, so you put a bit of everything on your plate, eat the bits that are delicious as well as a few bits that are, well, ok. Just when you feel you can eat no more they bring out the dessert, or the cheese board, or a second round of trays that contain something that you just can’t resist. And it’s Christmas, right? You’ll go on a diet in January.
Avoid this situation by having a good scan of the table before you dive in and help yourself. Work out what you will really enjoy and what you are not so keen on. Have small tasters of everything you really love, so you get more joy for your calories.
Top Tip: Try using a napkin instead of a plate to hold your food on, and don’t hover by the buffet table!
Be Prepared. Many of us treat the holidays like an Olympic eating event: go for it 110% and make the most of everything. Well, you can enjoy yourself 110% without eating EVERYTHING! Just as an athlete prepares for a sporting event by training and warming up, we can do the same before a party or big meal. We don’t mean by eating more in the run up to the holidays!
Avoid turning up to a party or meal absolutely starving for two reasons: if you are very hungry you are more likely to fill up on high fat food, and drinking on an empty stomach isn’t good for you or your liver, not to mention the fact that it will make your blood sugar levels spiral out of control, leaving you even hungrier and more likely to pile on the calories.
Top Tip: Avoid turning up to a party or meal with an empty stomach by having a low carbohydrate meal like tuna salad or cruditĩs and low fat dips before you go out. This will keep you full and stabilize your blood sugar levels.
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