HOLIDAY HEALTHY EATING

We don’t know about you, but kale salad isn’t usually on the menu at our holiday celebrations. From the sugary holiday desserts to the butter-filled family favorites, there’s rarely any healthy food in sight. The holidays are, after all, a time to celebrate and enjoy time with our loved ones—and even indulge a bit. But to avoid completely derailing the healthy habits you’ve worked so hard to establish, we’ve compiled a few of our tried-and-true tips for healthy eating during the holidays:

1. Taste the rainbow! One easy way to ensure you’re getting plenty of healthy nutrients this season is to pack your plate with colorful seasonal veggies and fruit—that means less mashed potatoes and more dense greens.
2. Eat before you go! One surefire to avoid the excess fat, sugar and calories this season? Eat at home before you head out to your holiday party—even just a light snack, like some raw veggies or a piece of fruit. That way, you won’t be tempted to over-indulge at the buffet.
3. Sub the bad for the good! When you’re the one preparing food for a holiday get together, a few substitutions will keep your guests and your diet happy. Try easy tricks like making a crustless pie and preparing vegetables with olive oil and parmesan instead of butter and cream.
4. Be Realistic! The holidays are a time for celebration. And with events and parties happening all month long, December is probably not the best month to set a major weight-loss goal. But that doesn’t mean you can’t maintain the healthy habits you’ve already established. Just stick to your routines whenever possible and remember that one slice of pie will not make or break your diet.
5. Everything in moderation! You’ve heard it before, but it holds especially true this time of year. No, that one slice of pumpkin pie won’t hurt, nor will one glass of bubbly—just don’t let one turn into ten!

Those are a few of our favorite healthy eating tips. We’re always looking for more ways to keep up our healthy habits during busy or stressful times. What are some of your favorite tricks? Favorite healthy holiday recipes? Ideas for avoiding the desserts? Let us know in the comments section!

P.S. 

A focus on improving nutrition and increasing activity is going to be a BIG focus for many in a few short weeks as we enter a new year. How we communicate with clients on making lasting lifestyle changes is a critical part in the their success to sticking with them. Looking for ways to enhance your communication and even some new ideas? Check out our home study course on Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness (Item # 9239)