Trying to maintain all the hard work you've put in throughout the year is always tough when the holidays roll around; the social gatherings are ENDLESS.
But don't fret--I tell my clients to ENJOY the holidays. A healthy lifestyle is about balance and celebrating all occasions. On the days you can eat well, eat well and stick to the plan. On the days you can't, you just can't and that's OKAY! Here are some holiday survival tips:
Holiday Tips Part I
Eat As Many Healthy Meals As Possible
You can still have your Thanksgiving / Holiday dinners as desired, just make sure the rest of your meals are on the healthier side. If you typically have 5 small meals a day, cut your meals down to 3-4 and enjoy the special dinner as planned.
Portion Control
Though I usually advocate weighing and measuring your food for long term success, a helpful tip is to estimate portion sizes for holiday meals. Here are a few quick tricks:
- Protein : Should be around the size of your palm
- Carbohydrates : Should be about half of your plate with a combination of low glycemic index (most green vegetables) & starchier carbohydrates (quinoa, rice, potatoes). Of that half, have the largest portion come from green vegetables.
- Fats : If food is prepared with minimal oil or butter, add a small handful of almonds or a tablespoon of avocado, almond butter, etc. If anything is fried or cooked in a lot of oil or butter, omit this.
Exercise
I know it's HARD to exercise when enjoying time with loved ones. I am by no means saying go out and do a competition or run a Turkey Trot, although you COULD. What's important is to find something that gets your heart rate up a little. Even if that means going for a 30 minute walk with your family or friends. The best part of the holidays is shared time with loved ones, after all.