The holiday season is well underway. No matter what you celebrate, it’s a busy time of get-togethers, parties, and food. Is it me, or does everything seem chocolate-coated in December? Fear not: with a little effort, you can keep your focus on your health & well-being while still enjoying the season’s offerings.
We follow last week’s strategies with some more ways to navigate your next holiday party:
Drink This Not That
Sip a pomegranate martini (165 calories for 4 1/2 ounces) instead of a chocolate martini (340 calories).
Savor hot apple cider (60 calories for 4 ounces) instead of mulled wine (235 calories).
Celebrate with champagne (80 calories for 4 ounces) instead of eggnog (340 calories for 8 ounces).
Always drink plenty of water so you’re not drinking cocktails to quench your thirst.
Dip This Not That
Top your crackers with black bean dip (160 calories for 1/2 cup) instead of spreading your bread with brie (400 calories).
Dunk baby carrots into hummus (240 calories) rather than crab dip (560 calories).
Stick a baked chip into guacamole (200 calories) rather than the sounds-healthy-but-it’s-not spinach artichoke dip (325 calories).
Read on for more great tips to help you, including:
Your Holiday Eating Secret Weapon!
Can you guess what it is? I’ll give you a hint: you’re already doing it and you’ve done it every day of your life. Give up? Take a deep breath as I tell you it’s . . .
taking a deep breath
That’s right – your secret weapon is simply remembering to breathe, especially when you’re eating. Before you dig into a meal, take a few breaths and decide how hungry you are. In between bites, keep breathing and paying attention. Notice how you become less and less hungry as the meal progresses. When you reach for a snack, stop, take a few breaths and ask yourself if you’re hungry. You may be stressed or tired or angry or thirsty or worried or any number of emotions instead of hungry. Don’t compound that emotion by feeding it, deal with it directly instead.
