The holiday season is upon us and that means holiday parties, family gatherings, and lots of food. While this can be a stressful time of year, I don’t want food to create an added stress for you. Here are some simple wellness tips to incorporate for a healthier and calmer holiday season.
Eat mindfully.
When we eat mindfully, we pay attention to our internal hunger cues, appreciate every bite, and savor the taste and flavor of our food. While eating mindfully is often easier said than done at a holiday party, slowing down and taking a deep breath can help you stay focused. When we eat more slowly, we can recognize when we are truly full, so we tend to practice portion control and eat less. Eating mindfully also helps us to choose foods that we really enjoy instead of eating just to eat. I offer mindful eating tips here.
Adhere to a routine.
Sticking to a regular eating and exercise routine as much as possible can help you deal with holiday eating. While it may not always be possible, stick to a routine as often as you can during the holidays. Try to include some protein in the morning to help you feel full. Good choices include Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit or peanut butter on sprouted grain bread. Try to exercise at least a few times a week, even it means a shorter workout. I suggest aiming for a morning workout because so often we get caught up later in the day and end up skipping our exercise.
Bring a healthy dish to the party.
A great way to ensure that you have some healthy food at a holiday party is to bring a healthy dish along. Ask your host in advance how you can help out and offer up a few choices of healthy dishes you can bring along. It can be as simple as a tray of raw veggies with a healthy dip like hummus as an appetizer or a dish you cook such as roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, your favorite bean dish, or vegetable lasagna.
Fill up on freebies.
You can enjoy an abundance of free foods—fruits and vegetables. As I write in my book Finally Full, Finally Slim. I am a huge fan of eating more of the right foods. It will help fill you up and therefore help you eat less of the wrong foods (fried food, cookies, white pasta). I promise—no one got fat from eating too many carrots or bananas. Fruits and vegetables are also super hydrating which offers up an added bonus.
Follow the 80-20 rule.
Yes, it is ok to indulge. Just not all the time. During the holiday season, I suggest you follow a healthy eating plan most of the time while allowing an occasional treat meal, drink, or dessert at a party. For example, if you are going to a holiday event, eat a healthy breakfast and lunch and allow yourself to indulge (sans guilt) in your favorite holiday treat.
Be grateful.
Health is about more than food. A good attitude helps to reduce anxiety, improve relationships, and may even contribute to good health. The more you realize that you have so much to be thankful for, the more grateful you naturally become.
Here’s to a healthy holiday season.
OTHER NEWS: My book Finally Full, Finally Slim will be out in paperback on January 7, 2020! Lighter weight, great for travel, and makes a great gift.
Check out the various versions and order your copy here. https://www.amazon.com/
Want to eat less? This trick may help.