Avoid The Annual Holiday Weight Gain

The winter holiday season is a month long food feast. From holiday parties with family and friends to break room treats at work, it seems there is a constant stream of food everywhere you look. But this does not have to ruin your dedication to eating more healthfully--or your waistline. All it takes is some planning and a few strategies to avoid the annual holiday weight gain. These tips are good for any party you attend, during any part of the year.

One of the most important things you can do throughout this time is to not skip meals. Skipping meals only helps to increase your weight because you will be starving by the time you get to your holiday function--and you will overeat. Also, your body will go into starvation mode and start to converse calories. Every calorie you consume will more easily become fat instead of being used as energy. If you feel hungry before the party, have a healthy snack.

Once at the party, turn your focus to catching up with friends instead of eating appetizers.  Take a few tasty looking raw vegetables with about a tablespoon of dip on a plate and sit with friends at a table. This strategy will allow you to know how much you are actually eating. Avoid standing by the appetizer table and eating directly from the serving platter. This is a recipe for mindless overeating. When dinner is served, use the plate method -- fill half your plate filled with non-starchy vegetables, and fill the other half with meat and a complex carbohydrate (starch). When dessert is served, if it is something appealing to you or a favorite item, eat it and enjoy. It is OK for you to not eat dessert if you are not hungry or don’t like what is being served.

Food in the workplace is abundant during the holiday season. Remember, just because something is there does not mean you have to eat it, especially if the item is not appealing or you are not hungry. Keep candy dishes away from you by moving them across the room. Bring your own healthy snacks to your desk, such as fruit or whole grain crackers. If you have special activities with your co-worker, such as a cookie swap, collect the cookies, eating the one or two you really like and save the rest for the upcoming holiday party.  Plus, you can always bring in a healthier item such as raw vegetables with low fat dip.

When the holiday finally arrives, enjoy yourself by eating all your favorite foods including cookies and other high fat treats. The most important thing is to balance healthy foods and proper portions with your favorite foods and treats.

Image courtesy of debspoons at www.freedigitalphotos.net