Here are Dr. Katie’s 10 tips for a healthy holiday season:
1. Focus on MAINTAINING your weight and your activity level
This is usually not a great time to focus on losing weight.
2. Bring healthy food options to the party
- Appetizer: Fresh veggies and hummus or fruit (it’s all about presentation here!)
- Side dish: Roasted sweet potatoes and apples, baked asparagus, etc.
- Turkey: Use an herbs to give the meat flavor
- Dessert: Dairy free and gluten-free options, you might not be able to get away with bringing a “healthy” dessert, so watch your portion size here or skip it all together. Bring something you don’t like, but other people do.
3. Watch your portions and chose 1 or 2 things to splurge on
4. Hide the cookies!
The freezer is a great place to hide cookies. Think about whether you really want those cookies while you wait for them to un-thaw. If the answer is “yes”, then see #8!
5. Don’t leave bowls of M&Ms and snack food around the house
6. Eat your veggies first
7. Drink plenty of water! At least ½ your body weight in ounces
8. If you eat something on the naughty list, ENJOY it!
Be choosy about when and what you indulge in (I am a chocolate kind of girl), and then enjoy it, otherwise what is the point?!
9. Be wise in your drink choices
- Egg Nog: ½ cup
- Traditional Egg Nog = 200 calories
- Coconut or Soy Milk Egg Nog = 90 calories
Alcohol:
- Liquor = 64 cal/oz (watch what you put in your alcohol)
- Red and white wine = 120 cal / 5 oz
Beer:
- IPA = 180 calories/bottle
- Honey Weiss = 149 calories / bottle
- Crispin Hard Cider = 170 calories / bottle
- Michelob Ultra = 95 calories / bottle
- Angry Orchard = 210 calories / bottle
Hot chocolate with water = 90 cal & 8g sugar / cup
- Hot chocolate with milk = 192 cal / cup
Coffee shop drinks:
- Medium White Turtle Mocha 610 cal & 73g sugar
- Medium Pumpkin Spiced Latte 380 Cal, 49g sugar
- Medium coffee with soy 15 calories, 1g sugar
10. Keep a bag of nuts with you. If you are hungry and do not have healthy options, snack on nuts until you get home or can find a place with healthy options.
Safe travels and have a very happy holiday season!
~Dr. Katie Corazzo
Picture Sources:
1. https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/6558034d/maintain-weight-loss-f.png
2. http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Healthy-Holiday-Tree.html
4. www.whirlpool.com
5: http://www.simplyscratch.com/2011/12/peanut-butter-mm-pretzel-kisses.html
7. http://edgeofseven.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/projects-making-a-splash-world-water-day/
8. http://news.asiantown.net/r/19889/i/1/5/51356
9. http://www.partyblog.mygrafico.com/creative-holiday-drink-recipes/
10. http://wallpapersfor.me/squirrel-nut/
