12 Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

Live Holistically is a multi-author site.
This post was written by: Susan Blue

We have made it through Thanksgiving. Feasting and gathering of kin and friends! On we go for the merry month of December.

Here are 12 guidelines I use for getting through the holidays.

Drink lots of water.

Staying well hydrated will better digest food and drink, and actually help with cravings.

Start your day with 2 8 oz. glasses of cool water 1/2 hour before you have breakfast or coffee. It is a gentle way of waking your digestive system. It get things working before anything else enters the system. Think of it as warming your body up just as you would your car.

Start your day with breakfast.

Many people are out the door early in the morning. Some just don’t like to eat that early. I can be one of them. Toast or bread with almond or peanut butter is great for that later part of the commute. A protein smoothie is handy for getting into the office. It is quick and gives a morning boost.

Stick to the 5 servings of veggies and fruit per day.

Recommended by the National Center for Cancer Prevention, this tried and true health benefit is easier than you think. Each serving is 1/2 cup. That makes 2-1/2 cups per day.

Haven’t been doing that much? Start with breakfast. Protein smoothies with fruit is an easy way to start. Adding fruit to your cereal or yogurt is another way to do it.

Prefer Something Savoury?

I prefer something savory in the mornings. I will have pancakes with grated carrot, chopped onion and bell pepper, maybe some left over veggies from dinner. I add a little Italian seasoning or lemon pepper and viola. Omelets are good too. I love Cream of Wheat with Indian spices and lots of veggies.

For lunches add carrot, celery, jicama, green or red pepper sticks. Have an apple or pear. We have so many choices.

Have your protein first thing in the day and at lunch.

Dinners are usually heavy with big portions of meat. It should be the other way around. Breakfast and lunch are the time for your major protein load. This is when you are most active and best use the fuel your body requires.

Minimize processed foods.

What, give up my biscuit, egg and sausage burger? The time it takes to drive to a drive in and get what you want, you could make it at home with healthier ingredients and be eating sooner.

A whole wheat roll or biscuit has more food value than processed white flour roll or biscuit. Sausage without preservatives can be easily purchased. Free range eggs that come from organically fed chickens are at most super markets.

Whole grain pastas, unrefined rice, unrefined wheat breads will give higher octane than their refined counter parts.

Have snacks that compliment your heath.

Unsalted nuts and seeds are easy to carry. Cheese sticks or pieces keep well through the day. Shell a hard boiled egg and put it in a baggie. Yogurt comes in handy small containers or stir up you own with your favorite fruit, nuts and or granola.

Take time to savor what you eat.

Yes, it is a busier time of year. When you just take those moments to enjoy what you have in your mouth, your brain gets it. It quits sending the signal to eat and eat and eat.

Pretend that you are French. Each mouth full is an experience. The more you savor and take time to chew, the less you will eat.

Eat lighter meals in the evening.

It is not unusual for a friend and I to split a main course. We get an extra salad, soup and one dinner. Much easier on the pocket book.

Fish or chicken are lighter proteins to have for an evening meal. The fancy salad or grilled to perfection veggies are even a better choice.

Eat a smaller portion.

It may take time to train the stomach, but so well worth the effort.

What about sweets?

Moderation is the key. Another key is to drink a lot of water, especially if you eat a desert without a meal.

I am great for splitting a desert or taking 1/2 of that lovely cake home with me. My freezer is my friend. I also eat very dark and 75% cocoa chocolate. It is more satisfying than the chocolates with less. One piece will do me.

Eat dried fruits for that sweet craving.

I am a fig lover, but some raisins, apricots, papaya or mango will do just fine.

Smile.

Smile? Yes, smile at your food. Smile at yourself when you see your reflection. Smile at the people you eat with. Yes, you can smile at other diners when you eat alone. They will think you are so relaxed and European.

Smiling sends a pleasant message to the brain. The stress level goes down and digestion and assimilation is better. You enjoy your food. Others enjoy you. What can be better?