5 Tips for Healthy Eating During the Holidays

The holidays are in full swing. Trees are adorned, homes are lit, and parties are gathering. With all the gaiety may come the overwhelming temptation to indulge all season long, but before you toss calorie-counting from Santa’s sleigh, or make yourself miserable with foods not good for your health, try these five tips for healthier eating this holiday. After all, what you most want for Christmas is a trimmer waistline, right?

Eat Before You Go

Make sure you’re still following your regular healthy eating plan to keep temptation in check. Eating breakfast is proven to prevent overeating later in the day, so don’t let the holiday rush make you skip it. Continue with your usual healthy snacks such as whole fruit and protein choices like smoothies, string cheese, and nuts.

Fill Small Plates with Better Choices

When facing a buffet of tempting holiday treats, most people have the tendency to overeat–regardless of their hunger level. Take a small plate to visually curb your choices. Then, load up on fruits, vegetables, and lean protein first so there’s little room left for the diet-blowing delicacies.

Give Away the Goodies

Holiday baking is often a family tradition, so don’t let your healthy eating plan keep you from enjoying it. Once you’ve made your usual batch of Grandma’s sugar cookies, keep only a few and experience the joy of delivering your handmade goodies to someone else. Use this same strategy for those food baskets from clients or leftovers from your holiday party.

Mingle and Move

The surgeon general’s recommendation for 30 minutes of exercise each day applies to holidays as well. Break up your routine into 15-minute increments if necessary, opt for the stairs or walk to the concourse when traveling, and mingle at that gathering. Moving around and conversing with friends and family will keep you away from the food table while burning calories.

BYOF: Bring Your Own Food

Potlucks are popular–and an easy way for you to make sure there are healthy choices on the table. Always bring something you enjoy and know will satisfy your craving for savory or sweet. Offer to bring an appetizer or side item to dinner parties. The host will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you’ll be guaranteed an item you can enjoy without guilt. Bringing something like this festive and healthy Black Bean, Pomegranate, and Avocado Salsa from Two Peas & Their Pod is sure to have everyone wishing they ate more like you.

Check out more great tips for a healthy holiday with this fun graphic over at Cleveland Clinic.

Happy–and healthy–holidays!