Easy Ways to Avoid Holiday Overeating

The holidays are synonymous with delicious foods and drinks.

From now until January 1^st, there will be an endless assortment of snacks, sweets and beverages. While it’s fun to enjoy holiday treats, it’s important not to overdo it, either. Try these easy tips to avoid overindulging.

• Plan ahead. It’s good to eat light and healthy, but you don’t want to arrive at holiday parties ravenously hungry. Try to have a breakfast filled with fiber and protein, a healthy lunch, and a small snack, like an apple, before dinners or parties.
• Avoid mindless nibbles. Most holiday parties feature a lot of appetizers, nuts, candies and other snacks you easily fill up on. In order to avoid all the extra calories, simply fill up a small plate with some appetizers and then move away from the food table. Out of sight, out of mind!
• Load up with healthy choices first. Fill your plate with salads, veggies, fruits, and lean meats first, then add smaller helpings of the less healthy options.
• Be mindful of drinks. It’s important to pay attention to the drinks you consume. Tasty holiday cocktails, wine, hot ciders, and hot chocolate can all add up quickly calorie-wise.
• Wait for second helpings. It can take 20 minutes for your stomach to relay to your brain that you’re full. Instead of immediately refilling your plate, wait until you can accurately gauge how full or hungry you truly are.

Sources:

• http://www.wakehealth.edu/Health-Central/NMR/Overeating-During-Holidays/
• http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition-pictures/healthy-holiday-food-swaps.aspx#01