The holiday season in the States starts around November and continues for around two months. All that one sees is decadent food such as cakes, turkey, sweets and wine. The residents exchange a lot of goodies and it is very difficult not to indulge in the celebration. There is always an invite around the corner with a dollop of cream and bottle of wine. Nobody can refuse that. This is considered rude and non-festive. This ushers extra unwanted calories which make the holidays unhealthy.
However with some simple precautions, you can stay healthy even during the holiday festivities.
It is all about the food
Meat
The staple diet for most holidays is roasted turkey. But, this is lean meat. As long as the portions are appropriate, the holidays will not torture you. However, ham is not healthy. It is more fatty and contains more sodium that the desired levels. Some slices are delicious but a full platter is harmful.
The meal sides
The holiday menus consist of sweet potatoes, green beans, corns, broccoli and rolls. The casseroles are unhealthy as are mashed potatoes and rolls. All these sides contain high amounts of salt and fat. There is also a lot of butter used for greasing which has high amounts of carbohydrates. On the other hand, sweet potatoes, green beans and corns are healthy options to include in diet.
The sweet tooth
Desserts a must have to close a meal. Stay away from creams and breads though. If you are searching for a healthy dessert, pumpkin pie is a good option. You can steer clear from around 200 extra calories and about 11 grams of fat by opting for pumpkin pie.
Setting up some ground rules for a healthy enjoyment
Never attend a party on an empty stomach. You are bound to eat more if you are hungry. Make sure you have something to avoid being famished.
Try replacing traditional foods with alternatives which are healthy. Tyr using ingredients which contain low carbohydrates.
Steer clear of alcoholic beverages. They contain 150-450 calories per glass. Try to cut the quantity down to maximum two glasses. Opt for Dry Wine, Bloody Mary or spirits with diet mixes. Overweight individuals tend to gain more weight by consuming alcohol.
If you cannot decide what to eat, try to include your own dish. This will put you in control and will also put a healthy item in the menu.
Set realistic goals. It is true that calories are harmful, but it is Christmas Eve. It is okay to overindulge a little. However, make it a conscious effort to have smaller intakes. This way you will not miss the festive spirit and maintain your weight as well.
A lot of people stop exercising during the holidays. This is not advised. It is good practice to continue exercising.
Stopping yourself from getting coloured in the festive spirit will only increase the hunger pangs. Consume holiday goodies while maintaining healthy dieting regimen will lead to fulfilment and celebrations.
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