The holidays are supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year”, but I think most of us can agree that a lot of stress and overeating is sprinkled in with all the obligations and parties that come up. With that in mind, what are you supposed to do if you are trying to eat healthy food or lose weight? It can quickly become overwhelming and the last thing I want is for anyone to spend thanksgiving worrying about the calories on their plate so let’s dive in to some quick and easy tips to help cut down on the overeating this holiday and still enjoy the food you love.
Eat Before You Go.
You know how they say you shouldn’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach? Parties are the same way. Now I’m not saying to fill up before you go to Thanksgiving dinner, but eating an apple or another healthy snack before you head over to see family will curb your hunger enough that you are able to make more rational decisions once all that delicious food is in front of you. Eat just enough to give yourself a clear head and you’ll probably find yourself piling up half as much mac and cheese on your plate as you would have otherwise.
Use a Smaller Plate.
This one really plays into the mental game of eating. Looking at this picture above, one definitely looks like it has more food on it than the other. In reality, they both have the same amount! Using a small plate will tell your brain that you are getting more food that it does if you use a bigger one and those signals will make it easier for your stomach to know when to slow down as well. If you are still hungry after eating everything on that smaller plate, by all means go up and grab seconds, but you might find that you don’t even want to!
Load Up On The Healthy Food First.
The last tip here takes a bit more willpower than the first two, but the benefits are huge. Try filling half your plate with the healthiest options at the table. After that, the other half is yours to do what you want with–pile on the marshmallow-y goodness of that sweet potato casserole–but make sure that salad or the least cheese-y vegetables take up half the plate first. This will encourage you to fill up on healthy options while still getting to enjoy the foods you love and look forward to each Thanksgiving.
Getting through the holiday season can be stressful, but stressing about food doesn’t have to be part of that equation. Taking some simple steps to plan how you are going to enjoy your favorite desserts without feeling bad about it will lift a weight off your shoulders and let you really enjoy the time you are spending with loved ones. Follow these tips next week while celebrating with family/friends and let me know how it goes! I would love to hear from you.
Sarah Zimmer Fitness 