You don't have to give up on your health and weight loss goals during the holiday season. Make a few changes in your behavior and you can enjoy the holidays without gaining weight.
Healthy Holiday Eating Tips
Eat slowly. Avoid eating on the go and rushing through your meals. Make a special effort to chew your food slowly and carefully. It takes about 20 minutes for our brains to get the message that we're full; eating too quickly can lead you to overeat simply because you didn't give yourself a chance to feel satisfied.
Drink plenty of water. Water helps you feel full and it flushes germs and toxins out of your body, which helps keep you healthier. Drinking water is also better for you than indulging in high-calorie drinks like eggnog or cocktails.
Choose broth-based soups. Cream-based soups generally have more fat and calories than broth soups. Skip the clam chowder and go for a bowl of chicken noodle or vegetable soup on a cold night.
Avoid late-night eating. As a general rule, you shouldn't eat for at least two hours before you go to bed. Give your body time to burn off those calories before you fall asleep.
Make recipe swaps. When you're cooking your favorite holiday foods, look for opportunities to make healthy ingredient substitutions. Use low-fat sour cream and cream cheese, and choose Splenda instead of sugar.
In addition to watching what you eat, make sure to get plenty of rest and exercise during the holidays. A balanced diet and a little physical activity will help you fight holiday stress and end-of-year weight gain.
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