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They're coming -- the Holidays --
How are you going to handle the gorgeous, fattening foods that
inevitably accompany every party, gathering or event?
Food is a big and wonderful part of the holiday tradition....
From Thanksgiving to New Years, we stuff our faces with Aunt Linda's
famous pumpkin pie to Grandma's N.Y. style cheese cake. (Actually,
it all starts with Junior's Halloween candy.) Learning to deal
with the mass quantities of fattening food doesn't have to be
painful. Instead, get to the root of the Holiday munchies:
- Take the stress away. Stress causes many of us to overeat.
This year, cut out a few of the more stressful holiday events.
It is OK to say, "No." For instance, traveling during
the holidays can cause extra stress that you don't need. Put
your foot down this year and tell your relatives that you're
not going to travel. Or maybe your stress is caused by having
a gazillion people over to your house for dinner. This year
consider having a quiet dinner or suggest that it's someone
else's turn to play host. Spending too much on gifts can also
be an unneeded stress. Try telling relatives you'd like to cut
down on gift giving this year... just tell the plain truth -
money is tight and you can't afford it. Instead, suggest a lower
cost alternative... like trading homemade gifts or putting a
limit on the gift cost. Whatever the source of your stress,
nail it down and remove it. And throw the guilt out the window.
You will feel relieved and happy with the control that you exert
over the situation. It's your choice to take the control...
don't leave room for excuses.
- Focus on holiday activities, not holiday food. Go ice skating,
caroling, or read a favorite holiday book. Don't be afraid to
start your own traditions. Instead of focusing on the baking
and cooking traditions make a new tradition surrounding an activity
like decorating your own door wreath.
- Replace some of your high calorie holiday foods with low
calorie or healthier options. Replace cookies with fruit, replace
rich candies with nuts, replace an apple pie with ambrosia.
Every year, my mom used to include a carton of malted milk balls
in our stockings. I've created a healthy alternative: I put
tropical fruits like coconut, large naval oranges, mangos, and
star fruit in the stockings. In our house, one of the highlights
of Christmas morning is when my son finds a coconut in the bottom
of his stocking. (It's easy to make your own traditions, just
focus on the things that you and your significant others enjoy!)
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- What do you do when you just have to make the cookies
or when Aunt Sue brings you a delicious fruit cake? Put limits
on what you allow yourself to eat. For instance, for each different
kind of cookie you make, combat cookie munchies with a rule
before you start baking: allow yourself 1-2 cookies of each
different batch and then give the rest away to family, friends,
and teachers.
Another idea you might like to try... don't give up the lovely
smell of baking, just make non-edible foods: cookies you hang
on the tree or non edible gingerbread houses. (Making one
giant gingerbread house and trying to keep it glued together
will fix your desire to bake for the next year!) If you receive
lots of baked goods as gifts - freeze them or bring them to
work or serve them only when guests come over.
- Going to a party?
- Don't starve yourself all day so you can eat more at the
party. You'll end up eating the high fat foods to compensate.
- Need a dish to pass? Bring a healthy dish - like a fruit
tray, a vegetable dish, couscous, or a low fat vegetable lasagna.
- Sometimes, the problem with parties is that the desserts
are laid out with the main meal. Be sure to eat the healthy
foods before diving into the desserts.
- Eat a variety of foods in smaller quantities.
- Need to munch? Hang out at the fruit and vegetable trays.
- Your choice of beverage can make or break your entire day.
- Before you eat it, input the food into your NutriCounter http://www.nutricounter.com
If you're exceeding your nutritional goals for the day, you'll
think twice before eating.
Adopt a new holiday philosophy that will change your life and
your holiday eating habits: Take control and give up or replace
a few of the holiday traditions. Whether it's stress inducing
events or great grandma's meat pie... ask yourself, "Do I
really need it this year?"
by Renee Kennedy, Nutricounter
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