Making Healthy Choices During the Holidays

healthy choices during holiday

Deck the halls with lots of… Vegetables?

You’ve got it! The holidays are jam-packed with festive, delicious, unhealthy food everywhere you go. It can be extremely hard to ignore the giant box of chocolates that you received as a gift, or the basket of holiday goodies that were delivered to the office – and calling your name from the break room as we speak. The holidays will undoubtedly test your patience and self-control during your SmartShape™ weight loss journey.

Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to help avoid unhealthy food while still celebrating the holidays.

Holiday Parties and Dinners

Holiday celebrations can be a truly wonderful time, and lots of fun! You have a chance to catch up with loved ones and spend some quality time with family, friends and co-workers. This might even be the first time that some loved ones have seen you since your weight loss journey began. You can share with them how hard you’ve been working and your results so far. Chances are, they will understand why you need to make healthy choices throughout the evening.

Unfortunately, it may feel as though there is no escape from the unhealthy snacks staring at you from across the table. Try your best to position yourself more than an arms length away from unhealthy finger foods and appetizers while mingling. You might find it beneficial to eat before leaving for a holiday gathering so that you aren’t as hungry. You can even bring a healthy dish to contribute to dinner. That way you will know there is at least one healthy option for you to eat.

You should also try and limit alcohol (or avoid it altogether) for the evening. Try drinking from a small or thin glass to limit your consumption. You may also find festive warm drinks like lattes and cappuccinos tempting. If warm holiday drinks are being served, inquire if there is any tea available. Green tea is a great alternative for a high-calorie holiday drink!

Gathering a healthy plate takes strategy and determination while sitting at the dinner table. You should try to avoid high-sodium food, sugary treats, red meat, and anything with saturated fat. While avoiding unhealthy choices, try to fill your plate with fruit, vegetables, fish, and skinless poultry. Avoid indulging on white breads, holiday treats, gravy, and heavy cream-based soup. A salad can be a wise choice – with the right dressing. Substitute creamy dressings for oil-based dressings such as a balsamic vinaigrette.

You don’t have to ditch your healthy lifestyle during the holidays. With the right attitude and technique, eating healthy during a festive celebration is possible!

Making Time for Your Health

It’s no secret, life can get extremely busy during the holidays. From holiday parties and visiting family, to shopping and festive cooking/baking, it’s a wonder how anybody gets anything done. You might find it has become increasingly difficult to find time to adhere to your healthy lifestyle. Communicating with your support team, meal preparation or going to the gym might begin to fall lower on your list of things to do. It’s important that you create time for your healthy lifestyle.

Try your best to incorporate exercise throughout each day, even in small portions. Try parking your car far away from shopping centres and various destinations. An extra ten minute walk each day can add up over the holidays, especially if you are finding it hard to make it to the gym. While at the mall or grocery store, try doing a lap or two around each store before you begin to really look. This can help you incorporate more cardiovascular exercise and give you a better idea of sales and products.

Take some time at the end of your day for meal preparation. Even if you are portioning healthy snacks for the next day, it can help to avoid binging on treats or opting for fast food at lunchtime.

Healthy Holidays

The holidays can be a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones and relax. Making healthy decisions during your weight loss journey can help eliminate stress, and maybe even influence others to make a healthy choice too! To learn more about healthy choices you can make, contact the experts at the SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre.

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