This week is the beginning of the holiday rush – Thanksgiving, holiday parties, school parties, get-togethers, Christmas, New Years – the list goes on and on! And while it is certainly the most wonderful time of the year, it can be difficult to navigate your food choices when there are so many tempting options. But I’m here to tell you that the holidays don’t mean you have to fall off your healthy path – you CAN make good choices and enjoy the holidays at the same time! Check out my Thanksgiving tips below and the Holiday Survival Guide to prevent weight gain.
Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with your loved ones!
Holiday Survival Guide
- To save on ingredients that cause inflammation and weight gain, opt for the leaner cuts of meat and enjoy a serving that is roughly the serving size of the palm of your hand. Stick to one-ingredient foods. Read your labels if you can’t pronounce the ingredients – DON’T EAT IT!
- Enjoying dessert? Choose one, or eat 1 TBSP of each if your wanting to try them but wait a couple of hours after your meal to allow for optimal digestion of your dinner.
- If you are currently on track with your weight loss goals, and you want to make sure that you are not consuming too many calories, have the glass of wine instead of one of your chosen side dishes or dessert.
- Keep moving during the holidays and try to exercise whenever you can.
- Instead of sitting around with family and friends after a big meal, go for a long walk. It may be cold, but think about all of the extra calories you’ll burn while walking in a winter wonderland.
- Don’t go to a party hungry, eat protein before you go, so that your blood sugar is balanced and you don’t reach for the quick calorie foods when you arrive. Drink water! Hydration it the quickest way to lose weight and to stop binge eating.
- When cooking for the holidays, take each recipe you are preparing and replace it with the healthiest version of that ingredient.
Prepare yourself…It is a stressful time of year!!!! The key is to PLAN ahead and remember to breathe through it, take the time to plan your exit strategy before you arrive to a stressful event. Don’t let emotional eating or drinking get out of hand. Have a plan to remove yourself from the table when you have had enough; changing your environment helps. Honor yourself and your body, If you don’t have your health you have nothing!
Thanksgiving Day
Enjoy yourself! I believe in the feast. Focus your energy on your gratitude and loved ones, not on feeling guilty or anxious about your food.
Remember this: The Thanksgiving meal itself won’t make you gain weight, it’s what you do in the days before and after that counts the most. And if you can, it helps to eat protein and veggies before you eat any sugar or starch.
Start your morning off with some hot lemon water, gentle stretching, and deep breathing. Have something light and refreshing for breakfast, such as a smoothie, fresh pressed juice or chia pudding, and do something active during the day to rev up your metabolism. Leftovers for dinner alongside a big salad are great, just don’t go overboard.
This is a great day to clean out something in your home that’s been waiting in a messy heap for your attention. Cleansing your outer environment will help you cleanse internally too. Play your favorite music while you clean to make it fun, drink plenty of water, and aim to make it a mostly veggies kind of day.
To help conclude your week of self-love and mindful feasting do something special for yourself. Whether it’s getting a massage, going shopping, working on your favorite hobby, or watching a movie on the big screen, reward yourself with restful play. Enjoy cozy healthy comfort foods like herbal tea, homemade cookies, toasted sunflower seeds, or apples with cinnamon and almond butter.
Now you can start your work week feeling both nourished and rejuvenated, and ready to take on anything!
