Eating Healthy Through the Holidays

By Richard Battista, Quincy

The holidays are notorious for being a struggle in terms of weight loss. From November to the start of the New Year, every big holiday has a

big meal associated with it.

To add to this, many individuals consume more than one version of the same holiday meal, due to the demands that come with their social

circle.

As a result, Real Simple chose to complete an article to provide some tips for maintaining a healthy diet during the holiday season, for those

who are attempting to monitor or lose weight.

First, the article has several suggestions for attending parties. The individual bring his or her own plate to any holiday gathering. This

would insure that, despite whatever else the other guests may bring to the table, there will be one dish that can safely be indulged in.

Manage portion sizes, particularly at large events. The individual must be sensible in order to avoid eating too much. If hosting an event, use

smaller plates to make it appear as if the portions are larger to help others to avoid overeating.

In addition to this, do what can be done to control the environment of a group get together. Group meals tend to last longer, as it simply takes more time for all to be finished eating. Therefore, individuals are far more likely to go back in for seconds than they would be otherwise.

As a result, try to sit next to a fellow healthy eater and wait for all food to be served before making selections. But, with this, individuals must

certainly except that, with this time of year, certain foods will be unavoidable; plan for the start to eat a little bit more and be a little bit

more flexible.

Plan which indulgences are worth it and which are not, particularly in foods that are specific to the time of the year. Keep track of all food that is consumed—both at any parties and in general. Weight should also

be gathered daily, as a means of monitoring the intake of food.

Prior to going to a party or event, it can be smart to indulge in a snack. Eating breakfast is crucial, as it is shown to reduce the amount of food eaten later in the day. In addition, having that base of a snack in the

stomach can help the individual resist the pull of the high calorie pieces at the party in favor of lower calorie meals.

It is important that these snacks be healthy as well; the holidays are notorious for delicious yet unhealthy indulgences, so beware to avoid

such things. These snacks can also help an individual avoid the dreaded food court and other choices provided in an excursion to the

mall for Christmas shopping.

Plan a shopping route that avoids places such as Cinnabon as often as is possible. Finally, maintain a healthy exercise schedule.

If, however, the busy holiday season doesn’t allow for the usual four mile walk, consider breaking it up into four or five fifteen minute

segments, doing at least enough to reach the surgeon general’s recommendation of thirty minutes a day.