EATING healthy does more than help keep your body in shape; it helps keep your heart in shape too.
But certain times of the year are more difficult than others to stick to healthy eating and the holidays are certainly no exception.
With parties, festivities and traditions mostly centred on an abundance of delicious treats, snacks and meals, it is difficult not to overindulge.
Christmas is here and the festive season tends to be a time of high-fat, high-calorie food.
For many, it is time for booze and eating every treat laid on the table.
Being part of the Christmas celebration without sabotaging your health goals may be difficult, but it is definitely doable.
The key to eating healthy at Christmas is to plan ahead, bringing your own snacks and dishes if necessary, so that you don’t get caught unaware and end up filling up on unhealthy options.
Here are some tips, tricks and fun ideas to help you stick to healthy eating, even during the Christmas season
Keeping on track with your normal exercise routine is especially difficult with the extra business around the holidays.
But making it a priority to exercise regularly this time of year not only helps you stay on track, but also helps decrease your appetite for junk food.
Eat a healthy breakfast on Christmas morning.
Include at least one fruit or vegetable and some protein such as eggs or nuts.
This will help stave off hunger and prevent overeating high-calorie snacks while waiting for the big lunch or dinner to be served.
Bring a nutritious dish to the festivities.
Offer beforehand to provide a salad or vegetable side dish so you can be assured that there will be at least one healthy item at the meal.
Pack a snack to bring with you in case you cannot find anything healthy to nibble on between meals.
An apple or orange and a small bag of nuts makes a good portable snack.
Consume a healthy snack or small meal every three to four hours throughout the day.
This helps keep blood sugar levels stable and is much healthier than consuming a single large meal.
While not everyone is going to completely abstain from any and all sweets and festive foods during the holidays, at least aim to load up your plate with the healthy, nutritious options first.
Instead of heading straight for the calorie and fat-laden side dishes, choose some ham and vegetables for your first plateful.
This will dull your hunger and appetite so you are less likely to overeat the bad stuff!
This is also a good time to practice portion control, especially when it comes to the desserts and high-sugar drinks.
Drink a glass of red wine with your Christmas dinner.
Red wine is high in resveratrol, a phytochemical that helps fight heart disease and cancer.
If you do not drink alcohol, try a glass of grape juice or just have plain water instead.
Practice portion control.
Instead of completely depriving yourself of the high-calorie options, try a single piece or just one bite, enough to get a taste, but not enough to leave you feeling stuffed.
Instead of dessert, or at least instead of a full serving of dessert, have a cup of herbal tea prior to eating the sweets.
The tea will help make you feel full and less likely to eat the treats, while also providing some antioxidants.
Last but not least, do not be afraid or ashamed to say no.
If you know you will be going to a party or event that won’t offer any nutritious options, eat before you go.
This way you won’t have to turn to the high sugar, high calorie, high fat foods that don’t promote health and fitness.
Do not eat food that has been sitting out for more than an hour or two.
Bacteria and other organisms can grow rapidly at room temperature and lead to food poisoning.
Always remember that your health is up to you.
– Source – www.livestrong.com