Seasonal, calorie-rich holiday foods that show up on Thanksgiving Day and stick around until New Year's Day can be detrimental to the waistline. But the good news is that there are strategies which will allow you to enjoy all of your favorite foods without the unwanted weight gain.
Beth Ackerman of the University of Louisville Physicians Diabetes and Obesity Center offers several tips to keep your weight in check on the U of L Physicians blog.
Eat regular meals: Don’t skip breakfast and hold out for the big meal. Instead, eat regular meals and don’t stuff yourself.
Cut down on leftovers: Because holiday foods are often high in calories, consider cutting recipes in half, and if you do end up with leftovers, freeze them for another meal on a different week.
Portion size is the key: Keep portions to a couple of tablespoons instead of a full serving. This way you can have a little bit of all your favorite dishes.
Hide tempting food: Place tempting foods, like pies and cookies, in containers in the pantry.
Healthy choices: Make sure to also offer lower-calorie foods such as vegetable trays or fruit trays so guests can enjoy healthy alternatives.
Start a new tradition: Take a walk, play a game of basketball or go shopping after the big meal to burn off some calories.
Make some swaps: Choose sweet potatoes instead of sweet potato casserole; a wheat roll instead of a biscuit; or fruit instead of a slice of pie.
Fill up on veggies: Veggies will keep you full, and maybe help you avoid a second dessert.
Eat regular meals: Don’t skip breakfast and hold out for the big meal. Instead, eat regular meals and don’t stuff yourself.
Cut down on leftovers: Because holiday foods are often high in calories, consider cutting recipes in half, and if you do end up with leftovers, freeze them for another meal on a different week.
Portion size is the key: Keep portions to a couple of tablespoons instead of a full serving. This way you can have a little bit of all your favorite dishes.
Hide tempting food: Place tempting foods, like pies and cookies, in containers in the pantry.
Healthy choices: Make sure to also offer lower-calorie foods such as vegetable trays or fruit trays so guests can enjoy healthy alternatives.
Start a new tradition: Take a walk, play a game of basketball or go shopping after the big meal to burn off some calories.
Make some swaps: Choose sweet potatoes instead of sweet potato casserole; a wheat roll instead of a biscuit; or fruit instead of a slice of pie.
Fill up on veggies: Veggies will keep you full, and maybe help you avoid a second dessert.
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