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Whether it is the cooking or the eating, food is a huge part of every holiday. Gaining that “winter weight”, especially during the holidays, can be discouraging and make it difficult to enjoy time with family and friends. Healthy holiday eating should not be restrictive and should be sustainable, so that you can enjoy the holidays without overindulging and feeling guilty. The good news is, making healthy changes and losing weight doesn't’t have to start after the New Year! Avoid that dreaded holiday weight gain by following these tips!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry…Before the Event!

Planning ahead is essential to avoid weight gain around the holidays. When you are hungry, you are more likely to reach for the high sugar and high fat foods and overeat. If you are going to an event that is serving food, eat a healthy snack or meal before the event, so you are less likely to be tempted by all of the unhealthy options. Keep a healthy snack with you when you are running errands or shopping for gifts, so you are less likely to find yourself picking up fast food for dinner on your way home.   

Have Yourself a Merry Little Potluck

If you are going to an event that you think will have a limited amount of healthy options, help out the host by offering to bring one of your own healthy dishes! This will give you peace of mind that you have something that you like to eat and that won’t make you feel guilty, so you can avoid those high calorie foods.

Avoid Drinking your Holiday Spirit!

Drinking the cute holiday-themed cocktails sounds like a fun idea but may put you on the naughty list in more ways than one! Alcohol is full of extra sugar and calories that don’t fill you up and can cause you to eat the foods you were trying to avoid. Decide how many drinks you will have before the party or offer to be the designated driver so that you don’t overindulge. If you are drinking, use sugar free juices or sparkling water with limes as a mixer instead of sodas or full-sugar juices. Stay hydrated and help slow down your drinking, by having a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink. You can easily save hundreds of calories and prevent that extra holiday weight gain by limiting the amount of alcohol you drink!

Be Present…But not in the Kitchen

Find other places, besides the kitchen, to socialize so you aren’t surrounded by food all night. It can be hard to stay out of the kitchen, especially if you are cooking or hosting, but try to limit the amount of time you are standing in front of food, so you aren’t mindlessly grazing. Even though you might not ever feel stuffed, eating a little bit here and there can make those extra calories add up quickly and turn into those extra few pounds!

Make a List and Check it Twice…Before Making a Plate

Be intentional with your eating and make a plate instead of snacking all night. Use smaller appetizer plates instead of big dinner plates so you are more aware of portion sizes and are less likely to over serve yourself and overeat. Before you make your plate, walk around and take note of all the food options and then decide what will go on your plate. This will help you to get an idea of the healthier options and if there are any foods you absolutely want to try. Fill your plate with fruits, vegetables and healthier options first and then always include a protein food on your plate. Lean protein foods will help you to “fill up” quicker and keep you full. Instead of someone else selecting food for you, make your own plate so you have control over the types of food, and the portion sizes. Start with smaller portions and know you can always go back. You are less likely to over serve yourself because you know your body best!

If you do overindulge, don’t stress, it is 2020 after all, there is always next year!