This is sponsored content from BlogHer and The Laughing Cow.
I love the holiday season for a whole host of reasons: the weather, the family time, the football, the Thanksgiving dinner, the roaring fires, the Christmas trees, the Harry Connick, Jr. Christmas CD, the twinkling lights that make everything look beautiful.
And there’s one other thing that I really, REALLY love about the holiday season, though it probably isn’t an entirely positive object of my affection:
THE APPETIZERS.
Oh, y’all. I adore appetizers. And it seems like the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to make lots of them. After all, you never know when someone might stop by. Plus, since November and December are pretty much the only months of the year when I really BAKE (as opposed to cook), we like to scatter lots of sweet treats among our selection of appetizers. After all, how in the world could I possibly offer our guests something savory without also offering them something sweet? It only stands to reason that I would HAVE TO HAVE both.
It’s a purely selfless act, you understand.
But the problem, of course, is that if I give into all my cravings – with the appetizers and sweets at the top of the list – over the holidays, then I’m going to find myself in need of a new wardrobe when January rolls around. And while I would never claim to emerge from the holiday season in better shape than when I started it, I do keep a few tips in the back of my mind that help me make it through all of our holiday festivities without wreaking too much weight-related havoc.
Ready? Here we go.
1) Keep healthier snack options on hand at all times.
I have a terrible habit of snacking and tasting while I’m cooking and baking. And obviously if I choose to snack on cake batter and cheesecake batter and cookie dough and all manner of butter-laden confections, I’m going to be in a world of hurt by the end of the holidays. So I make a point to buy whole wheat crackers, small packets of cheese (The Laughing Cow Original is a long-time favorite), peanut butter and almonds so that I always have filling, healthier snacks in the kitchen.
2) Eat a healthy snack at home before heading out to a holiday party.
Now I don’t mean to sound like Scarlett O’Hara before she went to the barbecue, but it’s so much easier to resist the temptations of fattening party foods if you’re not ravenous when you arrive. It’s pretty remarkable how much a healthy snack helps. So about 15 minutes before we walk out the door, I’ll fix myself a little plate with almonds, cheese and whole-grain crackers. That little plate goes a long way in terms of keeping me from falling face-down into a pile of 7-layer Mexican dip, and for that we’re all quite thankful.
3) Use smaller plates at holiday meals.
Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t have any intention of serving my guests a meal on a saucer. But modern dinner plates are HUGE – the size of charger plates, practically – so I make a point to use my very old-fashioned holiday china when we entertain. The plates are considerably smaller than what passes for normal these days, and you can fill it to the brim with food without feeling guilty. The smaller plate keeps portions much more manageable, and even better is the fact that you don’t feel completely stuffed when the meal is over. That’s a win-win.
Now it’s your turn – Share tip on how you keep holiday food from getting the best of you and you could win a $150 Visa card! Please keep your comments G-rated as any profanity or offensive content will automatically disqualify you from sweepstakes entry. You should also visit The Daily Dose of Well-Being hub to read helpful content each day and for weekly chances to win $100 at the “Play For Laughs” game. If you share a really great tip, we may even use it in The Daily Dose!
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I’m keeping a food journal to make sure I don’t go over on calories.
I eat small meals, never large ones, and I don’t eat at everyone’s house that we visit
and walk daily
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
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Avoid all those yummy dips at the holiday parties. The sour cream, mayo, and cream cheese really add up!
Too bad they’re my favorite!
One thing that’s helped is being lactose intolerant – I know the consequences, so I avoid the fattening, cheesy, sour creamy treats. I guess no one can just run out and become lactose intolerant, can they… So, a more practical thing that I do – I fill the vast majority of my plate with healthy stuff like veggies, then use the small area left for unhealthy stuff. I don’t feel like I’m denying myself, but I keep my jeans fitting!
I make sure that breakfast stays the same as always: whole grain toast or a bowl of cereal (not just for me but for the kids, too). that makes me feel better about what gets consumed later in the day!
I try to eat a big salad before we leave, or hit the veggie tray first when we get there. I also try to just enjoy the holiday spread and know that the other 11 months of the year I eat really healthy. Truthfully, I’m finally learning to pay attention to how I feel after I eat things (yes, I am a slow learner) and that often makes me not eat the ‘bad’ stuff.
The best thing my husband’s extended family did last year and will do again this year is going out to eat. There are measured portions. One piece of dessert. And no leftovers. I heartily miss the leftovers, but it definitely keeps one from over-indulging!
And the leisurely Thanksgiving morning is nice, too!
Maybe I’ll be the odd one out here and say that, in answer to your question, I DON’T do anything to keep holiday food from getting the best of me. It’s a holiday, the parties only come once a year, and my small children burn all the extra calories off of me (or so I like to tell myself). I eat very healthy every day all year long, so I don’t stress over extra carbs every once in a while.
small bites of whatever I’m craving – the holidays are a time for celebration and it is okay to splurge seasonally
I just always eat everything in moderation!! I love to try a little bit of everything but I give myself very small servings!! I also eat very slow which seems to help!
I just make sure to not eat past the point of being “stuffed!”
I usually limit the extra eating to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We travel out of town so the leftovers never come home with us.
Everything in moderation! Enjoy the season and the celebrations but limit the portion sizes.
Eat smaller portions!!
I eat small portions and don’t let myself get full!
I love finger foods at parties. So, if I’m trying to be good, I go for the healthier options. I might also eat a small bowl of cereal before heading to the event. I could live on cereal.
Remind myself that I don’t have to have a taste of EVERYTHING! Sometimes eating less variety of foods makes you feel more satisfied than eating little bits of a lot of different things.
Can I still enter even if I don’t have a plan? The holidays are brutal….
I plan to stay busy to keep from eating all the leftovers due to “boredom.”
Protein is the key. I eat small portions of protein every 2.5 hours to keep myself from getting crazy starving hungry. If you tell yourself, “I can eat again in 2.5 hours,” then you’re a more likely to stay in control of your eating. Not always, of course. But more likely than I would be otherwise.
A few years ago I started eating more protein and fewer carbs which helps me stay full longer.
Now I am training for a race, so if I eat bad, the running is not fun as my body is sluggish, so that helps me stay motivated to eat better and not pig out.
Still trying to figure out a way….reading these tips helps!
I’m planning on walking an extra mile durning the holidays, so I can enjoy the food!! Happy Holidays everyone!
Sadly, I don’t really do much of anything. I may take smaller amounts, but I eat what I want. I’d rather work out more than to deny myself all of that good food!
I eat right everyday but the day the holiday is on. Then on that day I eat whatever I want!
I normally try to start every meal with a decent sized salad. That way I’m less ravenous when the less healthy food is available.
3 years of W.W. taught me to remember that this food comes around every year, don’t eat like it is the last time you will ever get to eat it. It is not your last supper! That has helped me keep perspective!
Drink lots of water all day long so I’m more full when it comes time to eat. Plus, I’m hydrated!
I also try to just eat the fun stuff only on the actual holiday, and stop before I’m “full”. And I up my water intake.
I make sure I’m not starving before a meal or going to a party and I look for the veggies and make sure I eat some of those before overindulging on the high calorie stuff. I also try to exercise a little more.
I always make sure there’s a veggie on the plate and have a one plate only rule. No refills.
I try, often unsuccessfully, to exercise a bit more, as I really enjoy all those Christmas goodies and they don’t come around but once a year. After I am usually unsuccessful at the increased exercise, I just make it one of my new year’s resolutions!
I spoon “just a taste” on to my pate and that way I get to try it, but not over indulge myself..and I am usually full by the time I’m done :)
I drink a ton of water, and I try to remember to quit eating before I am really full.
I eat only small portions and never take an entire dish of sweets back home! I will eat the WHOLE thing so I try to give the leftovers away before I go home…
Melanie
this year, I’m going to try to drink A LOT of water – especially before I head out to holiday get-togethers!
I just get a tiny bit of everything so that I don’t feel stuffed but don’t feel slighted either!
I find that if I make it a point to spend some time with each person at a holiday gathering, I hardly have time to eat more than a smidge of anything!
I eat the things that I enjoy at special gatherings, but I try to keep most of my other meals during this season the same as usual.
I try and make the food look really pretty when I’m filling my plate, and huge portions just don’t look pretty. :-)
Holiday food does not get the best of me. I get the best of holiday food. Food actually doesn’t have calories on Thanksgiving or Christmas… did you know that?! We can worry about health and nutrition the other 363 days of the year.
Since holidays tend to be a time of indulgence….I try to set portion control. I also guzzle the water.
Eating several small meals packed with protein is good too!
To stay clear of the chips and variety of dips – I have no willpower when it comes to the dip!
I try to not spend time near the food table — if I have to go out of my way to get back to the snacks, I’m less likely to refill my plate. I also eat a small bit of things I love, thinking of the “5 bites” premise from the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” :o)
I have genetically high cholesterol, so I TRY to sample, but not each much of, the fatty snacks!
Those are great tips! I have a hard time around the holidays. This year, I am pregnant and I do not need to gain any more weight that I am already gaining, so it will be even more important! I try to make sure that I keep up with my exercising (walking) routine so that I don’t feel guilty if I want to have something special. However, if we have sweets at our house, I have to get rid of them before too long!
I remember its the Holidays and it is ok to indulge on a occasion. I eat healthy then at parties eat small portions of the things I love.
On one hand I’m lucky…I don’t *like* things that are ‘mushed up–all mixed together’ or containing mayonnaise, but on the OTHER hand I have a *WICKED* sweet tooth. So my tip is to TRY and limit myself or take 1/2 portions-or share- from the sweets table.
Stop eating when you are full is a good rule to go with.
By letting myself have small portions of everything I am craving, and eating slowly, I can usually ward off the temptation of having that second (or third) delicious dinner roll. But who am I kidding, sometimes it’s just fun to indulge! :)
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