By SAND Member: Antonia Caba
The holiday season is festive, enjoyable and (mostly) relaxing! It’s the perfect time to reconnect with family, to spoil loved ones with gifts, and, most importantly, to eat delicious food. We all have that favorite holiday dish that is a family staple; in my household it’s my mom’s homemade 5-cheese mac and cheese with butter-drenched bread crumbs that we have multiple times during the holiday season. One word: yum! The downside to these absolutely scrumptious dishes? They are typically super high in fat, sugar, and calories.
We all know that the holidays aren’t the healthiest of times; when it comes to holiday celebrations, it is so tempting to devour everything. But that’s totally okay – splurging for a few days over the course of the season isn’t going to pack on the pounds. However, it never hurts to be a healthy as possible. Here’s what to pack on your plate, what to limit, and how to stay generally healthy during holiday festivities.
I love my family’s holiday cooking as much as the next person, but ultimately it’s important to remember that there are always leftovers (and the holiday season is 2 months long!) Moreover, it’s never a good idea to deprive yourself of food the day before or the morning of just because you know you’ll be eating a lot with your family later on. Be realistic about the fact that it’s the holiday season and you might eat a little too much pumpkin pie or candy canes! Take your time, savor your food, and, most of all, enjoy the special time you get to spend with loved ones!
We all know that the holidays aren’t the healthiest of times; when it comes to holiday celebrations, it is so tempting to devour everything. But that’s totally okay – splurging for a few days over the course of the season isn’t going to pack on the pounds. However, it never hurts to be a healthy as possible. Here’s what to pack on your plate, what to limit, and how to stay generally healthy during holiday festivities.
- Think lean protein and healthy carbs… eat as much turkey or chicken as you want! It will help make you feel full so you won’t feel as inclined to go back for seconds (or thirds!). Try to stay away from darker, fattier meats like ham. On that same note, plain steamed vegetables and even mashed potatoes are healthy options that will help to make you feel more satisfied without eating too many calories.
- When you’re cooking, try to substitute healthy ingredients or lower the amount of unhealthy ingredients. For example, you could make a grain free pumpkin pie (http://wellnessmama.com/3396/grain-free-pumpkin-pie/), low-fat stuffing (http://www.food.com/recipe/low-fat-thanksgiving-day-stuffing-336837), or a lightened sweet potato pie (http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/11/sweet-potato-pie.html)
- Take smaller portions of the typically unhealthy holiday favorites like mac and cheese, fattening gravy, and pies (easier said than done, right?). Of course it’s okay to treat yourself during the holiday season but you’ll feel a lot less sluggish if you cut down on these typically fatty and sugary dishes. If you still feel hungry, you can always grab more food later. In addition, it’s important to remember that the holiday season includes tons of opportunities to enjoy all of your favorite foods, so try to space everything out.
- Take your time! Nothing says food coma like devouring 3 plates of food in 30 minutes. Savor your food, chat with your family, and relax. The food isn’t going anywhere, and holiday dinners shouldn’t be rushed.
- Go on a post-feast walk with a family member to help your food digest. You could even do this between courses. Also, you could plan a workout with your family for the day after your holiday gathering.
I love my family’s holiday cooking as much as the next person, but ultimately it’s important to remember that there are always leftovers (and the holiday season is 2 months long!) Moreover, it’s never a good idea to deprive yourself of food the day before or the morning of just because you know you’ll be eating a lot with your family later on. Be realistic about the fact that it’s the holiday season and you might eat a little too much pumpkin pie or candy canes! Take your time, savor your food, and, most of all, enjoy the special time you get to spend with loved ones!