The holidays are a little less than a month away, which means that it’s that time of year again. What time of year, you ask? It’s that time of year when people typically gain more weight than they do the rest of the year. The majority of Americans put on about 80% of their weight during the holidays, which is why you see a bunch of people in the gym in January. While healthy New Year’s resolutions are nice thoughts, we find it better to implement small changes during the holidays that can help you keep the weight off.
The reality is that there are foods at parties, family dinners, office gatherings, or other events during the holidays that are very fattening. Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pies, cakes, cranberry sauce, and other rich dishes are spread out over these tables. Plus, you have pumpkin-spiced everything and other holiday-inspired treats advertised in your face all day every day. This is not conducive if you are trying to stay healthy.
There are ways that you can keep those pounds off this holiday season. Implement the following tips during the holidays to help yourself remain healthy! One last thing…it’s important that you don’t get upset with yourself if you happen to cheat or fall off track. Don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on the horse.
Tip #1: Pregame
People who go out for a night of drinking will pre-drink at their houses, so they don’t have to buy a lot of alcohol later. You can do this with food! Before going to a holiday party, pregame with a large salad or steamed vegetables. You could also snack on some carrot sticks and hummus. This will help you not overeat at the party!
Tip #2: Eat From The Dessert Plate
Dessert plates are typically smaller than plates for the meal. We recommend using the dessert plate for your meal so that you get smaller portions. Remember, the perfect portion size is your two fists put together, so don’t go back and forth 10 times with that dessert plate. And make sure that at least half of the plate consists of vegetables every time.
Tip #3: Nibble On Apples When Cooking
Since holiday meals are rich and inviting, you are likely to take some extra “tastes” when preparing the meal. You may even end up licking frosting or batter for a while. These are fat traps. The best thing to do is slice an apple before making the meal and eat a slice when you feel like taking a bite of what you’re making. The fiber helps you feel full and nibble less.
Tip #4: Start Your Days Off Healthy
A lot of places sell pumpkin spice this, and cinnamon crunch that during the holidays. Say no to treats and pastries in the morning by starting your days off with fruit and vegetable smoothies. If you want something warm, make a bowl of steel cut oats with blueberries, chia seeds, and almond butter. You can also try some chia pudding!
Tip #5: Limit Liquid Calories
A lot of people have the tendency to drink their calories during the holidays. Eggnog, pumpkin lattes, hot chocolate, Irish coffees, and more are unnecessary and empty calories. Also, drinking lowers your resistance to temptations. A glass of red wine won’t be detrimental, but try to drink a full glass of water before a meal or drink sparkling water for a calorie-free beverage.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
