Tips from our Dietitian: Holiday Dining
Our dietitian Alexa has some tips for your holiday dining plans. How can you enjoy your holiday meals while staying healthy?
Alexa has your answers:
My 5 Rules for healthy eating during the holidays:
- Nix the guilt
Feeling guilty after eating foods you don’t usually allow yourself to eat can breed more unhealthy behaviors. Abandon those negative voices in your head, give yourself permission to enjoy the indulgence guilt-free, and then remember to get back on track with your normal eating routine the very next meal or the next day.
- Veg-out on veggies
Try swapping pureed cauliflower for carb-heavy mashed potatoes and add side dishes with more vegetables, like ratatouille, to bolster the nutritional value of the meal and keep you satiated so you don’t overeat. Bonus: All that extra fiber will help to keep you feeling full longer and will keep you regular!
- Don’t “save up” calories
Fasting before a big meal can backfire. Instead of saving up for the big meal, eat your regular meals and nibble on healthy snacks like raw veggies, nuts, and fruit throughout the day to avoid a full-blown pig-out where no crumb is left behind.
- Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water
It’s easy to confuse thirst with hunger, leading to mindless snacking that never satiates. To make sure you’re staying hydrated, drink half your body weight in water. So if you weigh 140 pounds, aim for 70 ounces of water over the course of the day. Getting sick of water? Try an infused water with lemon and mint!
- Stay moving!
A lot goes on during this time of year and physical activity can get crowded out. Being active is your secret holiday weapon; it can help make up for eating more than usual and reduce stress! Get moving with friends and family, such as taking a walk after a holiday meal or set up yard games that keep everybody up and engaged!