Your diet seems to have no chance between now and New Years (that’s what New Year’s Resolutions are for right?) The holidays are the time of year when we splurge on food and pack on a few pounds. But between Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas treats, there are ways that you can keep your calorie intake intact. Here are some tips for enjoying your holiday meals, without having to hit the gym every day from now until next November.
Reduce Fat, Sugar and Calories When Cooking
If you are doing the cooking this year, there are a couple ways to reduce fat, sugar and calories in the overall meal. Use a fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy to cut down on fat. Use sugar substitutes in place of sugar in desserts. Also, try to reduce butter and oil wherever you can. These small changes can make a big difference on the calories, sugar and fat you eat on turkey day.
Watch Your Portions, and Choose Wisely
You can have mashed potatoes any day of the year, but cranberry sauce and stuffing don’t come around as often. Instead of wasting your calories on food you can have all year long, fill your plate with holiday favorites. Make sure to put reasonable-portions on your plate and resist the temptation to go back for seconds (save the leftovers for later)
Eat Breakfast
It seems counter-intuitive to eat more on Thanksgiving Day. After all, you have a huge meal coming later right? But saving up your calories for the big meal doesn’t give you the same appetite control as if you start your day with a small breakfast. An egg, a slice of toast or a small bowl of whole-grain cereal are some great ways to keep your appetite balanced, so you aren’t starving when you show up for dinner and end up eating more than you would have otherwise.
Eat slower
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island released studies that you can lose weight and keep pounds off, not by changing how much you eat, but by altering how you eat. They found that body mass index is closely related to eating rate, that is how fast or slow you eat. Those who tended to chow down faster had higher BMIs than those who ate slower. So instead of holding back on the pumpkin pie, just enjoy it slowly. Not sure how to slow down? Taste each mouthful and putting your fork down between bites can help out.
Stay Active
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you should spend all your time on the couch. Make sure to give yourself some time to relax, but try to keep your workout routine as well. If you’re with your family on Thanksgiving, use the time you have together to be active. Have younger cousins? A football game in the backyard can be fun for them and an easy work out for you. Take your family from out of town on a walk around your neighborhood or to see some of the highlights of your town.
Low-cal Leftovers
After Thanksgiving, you still have plenty of food leftover. Use your leftovers to create low-calorie meals for afterwards. That way, you can’t feel too guilty about your mashed potatoes. Here are some great recipes from Carolina Woman including a BBQ Turkey sandwich, Thai turkey roll-up and Turkey veggie frittata, all for fewer than 250 calories.
In the end, the holidays are about family and friends, so don’t juts focus on the food.
Sources: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/lose-weight-by-eating-slowly-new-study-110911
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-tips-for-a-thinner-thanksgiving
http://joelnicholsblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/happy-thanksgiving-2010/
http://www.theroguenews.com/2011/10/october-playist/fall-leaves/