Strategies for Eating during the Holidays

:hiya:

I know that I posted this during Thanksgiving time too, but I can't find it now. So I figured I would post it again and went ahead and changed it from Thanksgiving to Christmas, as it really is for any holiday! Most of these are things we all know to do anyway, but sometimes I think it helps me to be reminded!!!


Strategies for Eating during the Holidays

~ Doing Christmas dinner yourself (so that you're in control of points, etc.)

~ If you have a tendacy to nibble during meal preparation, have your sink or basin filled with soapy water and put the utensils into that immediately after use. Use rubber or latex gloves if you tend to lick with your fingers. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash or brush your teeth before preparing. Who wants to eat after this?

~ If you're not doing the dinner yourself, but instead going out - try to arrive as close to the dinner time as possible - so you don't end up munching and sipping to fill time until dinner starts.

~ It's best not to be ravenous when you arrive or before the dinner. Eat lightly during the day or in the morning, but DON'T starve yourself!!! You will only throw off your metabolism and set yourself up for a caloric crash. Instead, once you get your day started with breakfast continue to eat "mini-meals" about every 2 1/2 hours. It will do wonders in keeping your metabolism and appetite under control.

~ Drink lots of water before dinner; Drink water, drink water, drink water: 12 ounces of cool, clear water will hydrate your body and release the unwanted fluids being retained from over-eating.

~ Try and fill up on salads or vegetables before digging into the good stuff!

~ Just say no: Don't be pressured into eating something you are trying to avoid. No need to explain why. Don't open the door to sabotaging voices that chime, "It's Christmas - you can get back on your diet tomorrow." Just say, "no thanks. I don't care for any." Say it enough and you'll start believing it too.

~ Plan activity during the day that you're having the dinner. PLAN for the family to go for a walk after you eat. Alternatively - increase your activity altogether this week - and leading up to Christmas!

~ Eat slowly - ENJOY what you're eating! I'm sure we're all looking forward to having that Christmas meal - when it does roll around - enjoy the moment and don't gulp it all down. Make a habit of putting your eating utensils down and taking a sip of water between bites.

~ Save the best for last: If you are overcome by visions of yummy desserts and chocaolate chip cookies, decide to have a sweet treat, wait for awhile and have it later rather than immediately following your meal. The temptation might go away, and it also allows the balanced meal to temper the insulin surge, keeping blood sugars more stable and keeping you out of the "more you have, the more you want" syndrome.


Happy Holidays!! :hoho:

Thanks Dawn. This has good hints for getting through the meal and I know I can "do it" by following these strategies.

But....my fear now is all the other foods that will be in front of me during the next few days. You know.....all those things that just show up once a year.

I do Christmas Eve here and our emphasis has always been on the snack-type things....ham rolls, shrimp, scallops in bacon, etc. We have done a bit better over the past few years. The Chips & Dip and the Cheese & Pepperoni trays have been replaced with Veggie & low-fat dips, but there is so much available here and in the homes that I visit that I'm going to want to at least try.

Oh dear....I really don't want to gain even a few lbs this season!

What a great list!

I've mentioned some of these elsewhere, but since they are holiday-related, I'll add them to your collection:

- If you are an eggnog junky, get a *quart* (not a gallon) of eggnog, and make it last. Mix it into non-fat milk. Use it in your coffee. You can get your eggnog fix without going overboard.

- Vons sells a really good eggnog-flavored low-fat yogurt!

- Life it too short to go completely without desert, but pick *one*, and really pay attention and enjoy it.

- Keep healthful foods on hand, so you aren't tempted to eat leftover desert for breakfast, "because we're out of eggs."

- Make wonderful, good-for-you treats, so you can indulge in *good* foods: an extravagent fruit salad, smoothies (just non-fat milk and frozen fruit!)...

- Spicy, hot, or crunchy foods can pack a whollop flavor-and-satisfaction-wise, even if you only eat a little: Corn Nuts, chili, gumbo, wasabi peas...

- Fussy, hard-to-eat snacks can keep you amused and "snacking" without actually providing a lot of food: Pomegranates, mangos, pumpkin seeds, nuts in-the-shell, etc. It's easy to wolf down handfuls of shelled pecans, but if you get the ones *in* the shells, you have to fight for them.

- Enjoy flavored teas and coffees!

Happy Holidays!

EM - I have always wanted to make the bacon wrrapped scallops. How do you make yours?

Traci

Traci, we have Bay Scallops and Sea Scallops around here. I think the Bay are the biggest and that's want you want if possible....good thing 'cuz they're cheaper around here.

All I do is wrap them, wood toothpick to hold them, and then broil until the bacon is nice & crisp. (maybe 20 min's depending on how far from the heat source, but you can tell by looking). Drain well on paper towels or tear open brown bags and put them on a heated platter. You need to get them served quickley while they're hot.

If you have to get the small (dime-sized) ones you can wrap 3 at a time.....kind of a pain, but doable.

Thanks EM

I will be serving those on Christmas Day!! YUMMY

These strategies are helpful. I'm glad you posted them-thanks. Well, I hope you all have great holidays. All the best.

Wendy