Often times celebrating with family and friends means entertaining and enjoying each others company in the presence of food. If you are struggling with losing weight or have started a new diet just before the holiday season, it can be hard to resist foods associated with that time of year. While willpower may be attacked when it comes to homemade pie and deep fried turkey, choosing to improvise is the best way to get through the day.
Choose Healthy Food Options
One way to remain on your diet during the holidays is to make what you are already fixing healthier. This starts with the main dish. Avoid deep frying the turkey and if you eat turkey, eat the white meat without the skin. Harvard Medical School states that a three ounce serving of white meat turkey has less than one gram of saturated fat. Make sure to prepare steamed vegetables to serve as side dishes. Increase your vegetable portion and reduce your meat, this will help you avoid extra calories from the meal.
Stay Focused on Family
While this has nothing to do with caloric intake, staying busy with your friends and relatives will help you avoid overeating. Engage in conversation; help prepare drinks, start a card game and cleaning up after guests will help keep your mind off of food and high fat snacks. Offer the tempting snacks to guests to help avoid leftovers. If you decide to give into temptation, eat a small portion and eat slowly.
Eat Before Dinner
If you are on your way to holiday gathering and you know there will be high fat foods and snacks being served, fill up on healthy food before you go. Eat a satisfying meal beforehand so you will avoid overeating and snacking when you arrive. Bring along a dish to pass that is healthy such as a vegetable tray or fruit dip. Focus on munching on these items if you begin to get hungry. Kids Health explains that slowing down while eating will help you recognize when you are full and prevent overeating.
Stay Active
During the holidays you can be so wrapped up with entertaining and hosting parties that you may forget the best way to benefit your diet---through exercise. Exercise will help you tone up muscles, stay in shape and help burn calories if you happen to slip off of your diet. Medline Plus explains that adults need up to 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week. Exercise will help you focus on staying on track with your weight loss goals.
Share Diet Woes
If you are dieting during the holidays one of the best ways to avoid falling off your diet wagon is to tell your friends and family you are working at a weight loss goal. This will help them better understand if you refrain from eating desert or snacking on dips and crackers. Share with other party goers or guests the importance of eating healthy during the holidays. The American Heart Association suggests the average person should consume lean meats like lean beef and pork. Reducing sodium and cutting away visible fat are tips you can use this holiday to avoid sabotaging your diet.
