photo courtesy of www.farfromboring.com
Good morning all! Well it seems as though the holiday season is in full swing along with Christmas parties, eating, cookie exchanges, eating, gift giving, eating, family gatherings, eating... Are you catching my drift? Now more than ever, all our social gatherings surround food. Not just any food but all the sinfully delicious ooey gooey holiday treats. So the dilemma becomes... Do you just give in and pay penance on the treadmill come January 1st, do you deprive yourself and feel like the food martyr for the holidays or could there really be (hope among hope) a happy medium?? Be glad, for I have holiday cheer! You can not only survive but thrive at the smorgasbord that is the holiday feast! Here are a few tips to make the most of your munching!
1. Never go to a party or event on an empty stomach. This pretty much spells disaster, particularly when it's a later dinner party. Before leaving home, grab a cup of soup or small apple with some peanut butter. Those calories you consume beforehand will be just enough to prevent you from going crazy with the holiday treats. When you're not starving you make better decisions.
2. Always bring along a dish. When you're invited to an open house or Christmas dinner, make sure you offer to bring something. As well as being just good social etiquette, it also ensures that at least one dish at the party will be healthy. Oven roasted veggies is a favorite of mine. Roughly chop some carrots, parsnips, onions, peppers, drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and some fresh herbs of your liking and roast away. So flavorful and just a little different from the typical salad. For a more festive appy, you could make skewered cherry tomatoes, mozza cubes (light cheese of course!), and fresh basil leaves. A beautiful presentation and healthy too!
3. Choose wisely. When everywhere you look all you see is cookies, bars, treats, pies and cakes, it's easy to overindulge. My #1 rule of thumb is to pick one or two bite sized treats that you can't get any other time of year. A favorite of mine has always been the nanaimo bar so that's always on my list:) Be picky and actually stop to enjoy what you're eating. How many times do we grab something, stuff it into our mouths and swallow it down before we even realize we've done it?
4. Step away from the buffet! Seat yourself strategically away from the food. If you're standing next to the appys they will end up on your waist.
5. Give the gift of baking. For some of us the holidays just aren't the same without scads of holiday baking. It's not just the treats but the enjoyment of baking and filling the house with mouth watering morsels. For those of us who struggle with will power, however, this can really be a recipe for disaster. I, for instance, cannot live in a house with ginger cookies. Left to my own devices, I could polish off a dozen in one sitting without thinking twice. But I also don't want to feel deprived. An easy solution is to gift away the majority of your baking. It's a blessing both for you and your friends. Who doesn't love to receive a tin of holiday goodies. That way you can have a few of your holiday favorites and also show others that you appreciate them.
6. Have a strong foundation. Stock up on veggies. This is not only for the holidays but throughout the year. Every meal and snack should have some sort of fruit or veggie. The fiber, vitamins, minerals and low caloric count make these vital to your eating plan. When these are the mainstays of your diet, the other indulgences will be negligible. So what do I really mean? At your main meals half of your plate should be veggies. I'm not talking about that green bean casserole that's loaded with butter and cream either. Fresh, roasted or steamed is the way to go. At snacktime, opt for fruit and cheese instead of cookies and treats.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Sarah
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