It is always nice to be able to come home and rest after a few busy weeks in Raleigh. And if you are like me, home means family, relaxing, and good food and plenty of it. Today’s blog post will be about a few tips on how to eat when you have broken routine and have hit the road for the holiday season.
1. It is ok to eat you favorite holiday foods….after all they do only come around once a year!! The key to enjoying these foods is to eat them slowly and in moderation. This means, don’t eat the entire pie but rather cut yourself a small slice and eat each bite slowly so you are actually getting to taste it.
2. Watch out for liquid calories! They add up fast!!! The holidays are full of fun calorie dense beverages…be on the lookout especially at your favorite coffee shops. If you must have your flipped dipped frappa macka swoody doopdy latte be sure you are ordering the smallest size. Also be careful with the alcohol. A good option here is to have a water between every beverage. This will not only keep you from getting a little too buzzed around the relatives but also help to keep that waistline trim.
3. Holiday meal time! YUM!! So many delicious options it is hard to decide on what to start with. So I will make it simple, start by filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies are nutrient dense and low in calories. Starting with these will help you keep from over consumption as they will fill you up but not stuff you!
4. Avoid the “Extras”…avoid the gravy, extra butter, jelly, etc. These are extra calories that can, like beverages, add up fast.
5. Eat slowly. It takes about 20min for your brain to get the signal from your stomach that it is full. A good way to be sure to eat slowly is to set your fork down between bites and have a sip of water. Also engaging yourself in conversation can aid in keeping you from eating too fast.
6. Don’t skip meals to “save calories” for the big meal. This leads to over eating at the big meal. Skipping breakfast especially will create a downward spiral for you all day.
7. When traveling be sure to pack healthy snacks. I know when I am on the road I love to have something to munch on. Some good on the road snacks include nuts (no salt/seasonings), seeds (be sure to have a spit cup if you are choosing sunflower seeds), popped plain, no salt added popcorn, bananas, carrots, celery, grapes, and apples.
8. Traveling during meal time? Pack that meal with you. Often times if I am going to be on the road during a meal I will pack a sandwich. This helps to avoid fast food which can be loaded with extra calories, fat, and salt.
9. Drink water before sitting down to a big meal. This will help you to feel full faster and keep from over eating.
10. EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.
I hope this helps you to navigate through the holiday season as you make it from the early morning coffee shop to the late night bar.
Happy Holidays Y’all!
Eat Train Love 365 