Eating Clean During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is here and with it comes parties, family dinners and lots of food. This time of year will challenge your willpower and commitment to your healthy lifestyle and could leave you reaching for more cookies than Santa himself would eat. While the winter is usual associated with packing on some extra weight, you don’t want ruin all of your hard work from the entire year by putting on some unwanted “winter weight.”
Here are a Few Tips to Help You Avoid Looking Too Jolly This Season
- Come up with a Game Plan
You want to be able to enjoy yourself and not stress over deviating from your usual routine and eating habits. For example, always eat a clean meal before going to a party. It will leave you feeling fuller and more satisfied with yourself and you will be less likely to indulge in foods you normally wouldn’t eat.
- Try to work out on Days that you have Gatherings
Getting in some cardio and a good leg session is the best workout to plan for. Since your legs are some of the biggest muscles in your body, they will need the most food to repair themselves and when you’re heading to a party where the extra calories are a guarantee, you won’t have to feel guilty for eating them.
- While you’re at the party, Make Good Choices.
Survey the spread before loading up your plate blindly and show some self control. Remember, you’ve had cookies before, you don’t need 10. One way to ensure you have at least one good choice, is to bring a healthy dish to the party. By doing this, you will have a “go to” dish to help you stay on track.
- If you can, Plan Your Cheat Meals on the Days of Your Parties
Cheat Meals will help you not skip meals, which is the worst thing you could do for your diet. Make sure it’s a balanced meal and not filled up with sugars, oils and butter. Load up on the veggies and protein to keep you full and control your portions. Putting these items on the plate first will help you with portion control; the less room on your plate, the less likely you are to make a bad decision.
- Speaking of bad decisions, try to keep alcohol intake to a minimum
Water is the key to survival. It is just as important on these days as any other. Don’t forget about it. It’s a readily available item at almost any event you will attend this season so there’s no excuse not to drink plenty of it to stay hydrated.
Having said all of this, don’t let your healthy lifestyle and dietary needs stress you out. This is a time for being with family and friends and celebrating the holidays together. Have realistic expectations of yourself and follow through with your plan.
From all of us at Jimmy’s Famous Meals, Have a Happy Holiday Season!