‘Tis the season for festive dinners, parties, and all those holiday desserts. And with good food waiting for you everywhere you go, it’s so easy to overdo it and get stressed out or feel guilty when you do. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are some tips for enjoying eating and drinking your way through the holidays without the guilt or stress, from registered dietitian Anne Mauney.
Don’t make anything off limits - Because as soon as you put something on the can’t have list, it’s instantly so much more appealing. So don’t give it that power.
Don’t go to a holiday party or dinner on an empty stomach - Forget that idea of “saving up” all day by not eating much so you can have calories at your event later that night, you’ll be so hangry by then that you won’t make good choices and you’ll be inhaling food so fast you can’t enjoy it. So have a healthy snack before you go so you’re not starving.
Decide what you really want to indulge in - When you get to a party, do a lap to check out the food and drinks being served before you fix a plate. That way you can eat and drink the things you like best and won’t just be on autopilot eating mindlessly
Stop when you’re satisfied, not stuffed - Learn to be mindful when eating so you recognize when you’re full but haven’t overdone it. Eating slowly helps, so does taking breaks, taking a deep breath, and giving your body a chance to catch up before you clean your plate and regret eating too much.
If you do overindulge, forgive yourself - What’s done is done, don’t beat yourself up about it now. Learn from it and let it be a reminder of what you don’t want to do next time.
Source: The Kitchn