Growing up as the daughter of a baker can make holiday treats
hard to pass up, but last year, one baker’s daughter headed off
temptation and saved herself some work by inviting guests to bring
dessert instead of baking her family recipes.”She knew no dish
would be as tempting as her father’s apple pie,” says LMHS dietician
Elizabeth McCormick. “She ate less and found herself connecting
holiday memories to family, not food.”
A s
the weeks of parties and potlucks approach, Elizabeth shares
some proven tricks to help ward off holiday pounds. “Think of a
holiday as any other day,” she emphasizes. “We naturally pair
Thanksgiving with pumpkin pie, but to think we only have this one
time a year to indulge is silly. You can enjoy pumpkin pie in March.
Just remember, everything in moderation.”
During the holiday season, Elizabeth says to cut yourself some
slack. Now may not be the time to think about weight loss. Try to
maintain your weight instead.
Getting active never hurts, either, says Marisa Arena, Dietician
for LMHS. “Remember, exercise is the key to coping with holiday
stress,” she says. “Exercise will help you face your holiday table
and face your day.”
Here are some healthy habits to help safeguard your waistline:
- Do not starve yourself all day for one big feast. Eat
regular
meals and healthy snacks prior to the party, so you won’t be
ravenous upon arrival and make unwise food choices.
- Bring a healthy dish. Elizabeth says one of her clients took
a festive fruit plate of kiwis and strawberries to a Christmas
gathering that proved to be a real eye-opener. She noticed
health conscious guests gravitated to her fruit dish.
- Step away from the food table. You will be likely to nibble
while socializing if you stand close to the food.
- Walk the line before you start to pile your plate. Look at
all the food and decide what you really want. Put all your
portions on a plate to better visualize the food you’re eating.
- Go easy on the egg nog, which holds a meal’s worth of
calories in one drink. Savor one and do not splurge on two or
three. Alcohol also lowers your inhibitions and may make you apt
to eat more.
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