You don’t have to go completely off track to enjoy the holidays! I’m sharing some tips I follow to stay healthy while still celebrating with family and friends.
Thanksgiving is less than a week away and millions of people are preparing to stuff their faces with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie until they can barely walk. Not going to lie, my favorite part of the holidays, besides spending time with family and friends, is the food. It might seem impossible, but you CAN enjoy the holidays while staying healthy. Here are some tips I’ve followed that can help you out:
Bring your own dish
Do you expect there to be no healthy options at the event you’re attending? Then bring your own! I’m sure the hostess will not complain if you bring more food to share and it’ll give you something to eat if you don’t want to indulge in the unhealthy options. My mom and I are making my butternut squash, root vegetable, and quinoa kale salad, as well as cauliflower stuffing for Thanksgiving this year. With those two dishes, plus turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (without candied pecans or marshmallows on top), and a little stuffing, we can still enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without feeling like crap afterwards.
Help out in the kitchen
If you never help prepare the meal, this is your chance! Don’t try to take charge and make family members mad, but you can suggest some healthier ingredients to use if you join the cooks in the kitchen. For example, suggest using ghee instead of butter in the potatoes, or serving the dressing separate from a salad. Don’t make your grandma angry by trying to change her special pie recipe, but it doesn’t hurt to suggest some healthier swaps in some dishes.
Fill up on veggies
You’re always supposed to have at least half your plate full of veggies and this should still be the case during the holidays! If there aren’t many healthy options, at least fill your plate with as many vegetables as possible. This could even be some raw vegetables from a vegetable tray or a little extra salad. The more you fill up on vegetables, the less unhealthier foods you will most likely avoid. And if you don’t expect there to be many veggies, bring your own dish 🙂
Eat in moderation (and mindfully)
If you want homemade pumpkin pie, you don’t have to eat a huge piece with mounds of whipped cream on top. Take a small piece and really savor it and eat mindfully. You’ll enjoy that small portion so much more if you truly enjoy it instead of wolfing down a giant piece that’s gone before you know it. If you do this with all of the foods that are less healthy and fill your plate mostly with healthy foods (like veggies), you’ll be much better off.
Drink water
Hydration is so important and can really help you out during the holidays! Rather than drinking pop, juice, or alcohol, try to stick with water, or at least alternate each drink with water. Water helps with digestion, gives you more energy, and is also known to make you feel full, which means you’ll end up eating less and avoid eating when you’re not even hungry.
Ask yourself: “Am I really hungry?”
Food is the center of holidays for most people, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat until you feel uncomfortable. Constantly check in and ask yourself if you’re really hungry or if you’re just eating because everyone else is or it’s in front of you. While you are eating a meal, chew slowly and stop eating once you feel satisfied. Listening to your body can really help avoid overeating!
Step away from the table
I don’t know about you, but my family members are grazers (including me). While dinner is cooking, we snack on some olives and cheese, then we eat our big meal, and not too long after we have some dessert, then a few hours later we have what we call “second dinner” and eat a little bit more turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. That’s for Thanksgiving, and for Christmas we do more of a buffet style with ham sandwiches, veggie and cheese trays, and lots of dips. This leads to constantly eating here and there, even if we’re not really hungry. I suggest trying not to snack continuously, but instead have one meal and listen to your body. If you’re still hungry, get a little more, but try not to pick or “graze” at whatever is sitting nearby.
I know another common issue is getting seconds. My family often lingers around the table chatting after eating a big meal and all of a sudden I find myself plopping another scoop of mashed potatoes on my plate because it’s in front of me, even though I know I’m stuffed full. Although it’s nice to spend more time with family, it doesn’t have to happen around the food. Be the first one to get up and start doing the dishes together, clear the table and play a board game, or invite everyone to the living room to watch the football game. Better yet, ask people to go on a walk with you!
Get active
Getting active can be difficult during the holidays, especially if it’s freezing cold outside like it is in Pennsylvania, but you’ll feel so much better if you move! I’m not saying you have to do an intense workout after dinner, but maybe bundle up and go for a short walk with family, or run around the house playing with the kids or dogs. Moving your body, instead of going right from the table to the couch, will help you feel more energized and not so lazy and uncomfortably full.
Be prepared for questions
Chances are, there will be family members who question your food choices and act like you’re crazy for trying to eat healthy. I don’t recommend being defensive and causing tension, but make sure you’re prepared to reply to any questions or criticism. Have some key phrases ready, such as “gluten hurts my stomach and I won’t feel well for the rest of the day” or “this way of eating has really worked for me and I feel great.” Also, it’s important to know the facts, especially because you may have family members who are genuinely curious about your choices. Know why certain fats are healthy, where to find better ingredients in your area, why you may be intolerant of dairy, or the answers to any other questions that may come about (or at least know some good resources to refer them to). Who knows, this may be an excellent opportunity to get someone else on board with living a healthier lifestyle.
ENJOY YOURSELF
This is the most important tip I have for you. Holidays are special and come with many traditions that you only get once a year, so don’t spend them stressing out and feeling guilty because you ate unhealthy. The point of this post is to help you make better decisions for your health during the holidays, but that includes your mental health too. If your grandma makes the best pie, EAT A PIECE. If stuffing is your favorite food and you only have it once a year, you better be putting a scoop on your plate.
Your happiness is just as important as what you eat, so don’t restrict yourself from certain foods just because you think they’re “bad” for you. Know your limits, indulge until you feel satisfied, and enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. One bad meal is not going to put you completely off track.
No matter how you celebrate during this time of the year, I wish you happiness! Enjoy your traditions and always remember to focus on YOU, both physically and mentally. Happy holidays!!!
How do you stay healthy during the holidays?
This is great! I have a huge tendency to over-indulge during Christmas time! have to be careful this year, my wedding is a few weeks after christmas so I stil need to fit into my dress!!
Oh, me too! Last year I didn’t try at all and I felt awful. I’m really hoping to find a nice balance this year between indulging and staying healthy. Congratulations by the way!!!