Holiday Foods … Enjoy Them!!
This morning, we watched a segment on the Today Show featuring tips for avoiding holiday weight gain. The Today guest suggested that one of the best ways to curb your holiday cravings is to eat before you go to a party. We’ve heard this advice numerous times and every time, it makes us chuckle. We prefer to go to a party hungry, saving up our calories for the fun foods that await us! After all, eating and enjoying a delicious variety of appetizers and treats is part of what the holidays are all about.
While we don’t recommend gorging on platefuls of Brie cheese and rich chocolate fudge, we would never advise anyone to deprive themselves either. Here are a few tips to help keep weight gain in check during the holiday season:
- Increase your exercise (walk, walk, walk!): It will help reduce your stress level and burn off extra calories.
- Start your party nibbling with low-calorie choices: Fill up first on things like shrimp cocktail, veggies with hummus or lowfat dip, and fruit. Once you feel satisfied, enjoy a tiny taste or two of the more caloric options. Then, move away from the food table!
- Beware of beverages: The calories from beverages can add up before you know it. Stick with water or seltzer (we like the lemon and lime flavors), choose lowfat eggnog if available, limit party punch to one glass and watch your alcohol consumption.
Life is short. So get out there and enjoy eating and drinking (in moderation!) with family and friends over the holidays. Cheers!