Added: 12/13/2005 |
Sensible Eating: The Key To Holiday Food Christmas PreparationEven the most dedicated dieters find it challenging to stick to their guns and monitor their intact when it comes to holiday food christmas meals. Beginning on Thanksgiving Day and not letting up until News Years Eve; a deluge of calories will cross the plates of even the most health conscious. You can't escape it: at the office, at the home of our in-laws, on street corners. Food is everywhere. And because we humans tend to consider the holidays as a once-a-year occasion, we give in to our worst temptations and start shoveling down the holiday food Christmas meals and snacks like there's no end in sight.
If there's a positive side to this, it's that research shows that holiday weight-gain tends to level off at between 10 -11 pounds. So at least over-eaters know what their dealing with. But like any binge habit, moderation is the key. And although this is often easier said than done, a person can make it through the holidays with their waistline intact!
Fortunately, the same sensible eating habits that apply throughout the year can be followed during the holidays when you're putting the final touches on various Christmas menus:
1. Fruits and vegetables should be prime ingredients for any holiday food Christmas meal. So load up when you hit the grocery store to ensure you have plenty on hand for snacking.
2. Keep to a regular eating schedule. That means continue eating breakfast. When you skip a meal it makes you hungrier later in the day and that means overeating of food christmas snacks and goodies.
3. When you go to a party, try to seek out the healthy food choices. And keep your distance from cookies and any other sweet items on the christmas menus.
4. If you find yourself staring at a plate full of turkey or chicken, take off the skin. That is the part with the most fat and calories.
5. Drink more water. Water flushes your system of toxins that are ever-present in holiday food Christmas meals. Nutritionists recommend 6 - 8 glasses a day.
6. Cut down on the alcohol. No one likes a drunk Santa Claus or elf. .
7. If you go to a party, try eating ahead of time. You're likely to eat less when you get to the actual party.
The best advice however, involves exercise. Regardless of the amount of food christmas snacks and sweets you ingest during the holidays, if you try to include some exercise during your daily routine you'll be much better off. This may be going to a gym if you live in an area that is being pounded with snow. At the very least, on good-weather days, try to go for a 30 minute walk. The trick - say the nutritionist's - is to keep your metabolism going.
One of the by-products of staying physically healthy is that it reduces a person's level of stress. And if there's one period of the year that conducive to more stress it's the holiday season. Bad enough with the chaos of visitors, parties, shopping and spending. Add food Christmas meals and calories to the mix and you can easily overload. All the more reason to slow down and try to include some aerobic activity in your daily agenda.
The holiday season should be a time of happiness and joy. Add to the celebration by watching your food in-take. Happy holidays!
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