Are you interested in staying healthy this holiday season? Then read on for holiday eating tips from our newest blogger expert, Esther Crawford, founder of ShePosts.com. Read more about her background here.
The holiday season is a time of stress and anxiety, especially for those of us who are trying to watch our waistline. It’s no secret that weight loss and weight management have been a long-term struggle for me and something I have to keep on top of because I find the pounds have a way of creeping back on. I pushed hard to lose the baby weight and am proud of my success and don’t want a 6-week run of holiday festivities to undo any of that work.
Here are my top 5 tips for staying trim during the holidays:
1) Have low-calorie, quick options handy. Since November and December are filled with parties and shopping, it seems I’m always on the go. Instead of running through a drive-thru I like to keep my freezer and cupboard stocked with easy meals like Asian potstickers and vegetable soup, that way I stay in control of portions and remain on target.
2) Make substitutions to recipes. I’m a big fan of making changes to recipes and everyday staples so that you’re reducing unnecessary calories while bulking up meals with “superfoods.” A couple of super simple changes include using PAM Cooking Spray instead of oil, Egg Beaters egg whites instead of whole eggs and of course meat substitutes in lieu of chicken or beef.
3) Offer to be the host. One of my biggest challenges is when I’m at the mercy of someone else’s kitchen, whether at a friend’s house or in a restaurant, because it’s not clear what went in to the food. By choosing to be the host you’ve now taken the reins and have control over the ingredients selected. If that sounds daunting don’t worry – there are tons of quick recipes that can be found on ReadySetEat.com.
4) Plan meals in advance. By figuring out what you’re eating ahead of time, you’ll remain in control and feel confident when turning down that slice of fruit cake at the office because you’re working off a road map. One of the best ways to stay on track is to grocery shop with confidence – if you head into the store on an empty stomach and without a plan you’re likely to come home with bags full of items you’ll later regret. So that I don’t get lost in the aisles, I find it’s incredibly helpful to keep my shopping list on my phone using an app like Phil Lempert’s Smarter Shopping.
5) Squeeze your holiday favorites in. Deprivation is a sure-fire way to fail because it’s unsustainable. It’s important to know that having a delicious piece of pumpkin pie piled with Reddi-wip is okay! Splurging is just that – it’s a one-off. By inserting some favorites into your plan, you’ll feel satisfied instead of bitter or guilt-ridden.
I’m a huge fan of this season because it brings so many of the people I love together… plus I’m a sucker for sappy Christmas music, which I’ll start listening to as soon as the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving is put away.
I’d love to hear your tips too – so feel free to share them in the comments below!
