Whether it is because of the bounty of food created by friends and family, the treat baskets sent by clients to the office or the ability to nibble all day long when on the break from work, Albertans snack their way to extra pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years.
It’s not all bad news. Holiday weight gain can be managed an it’s not hard to get back on track. Here are some tips. You can use these tips before, during and after the holidays to keep things in check.
Track What you Eat
Tracking is powerful tool to mitigate mindless grazing and to preplan for snacks and indulgences. There are many free and paid apps that make tracking easy. Popular ones include My Fitness Pal, Lose It!, Noom and Weight Watchers.
Plan Activities that Don’t Revolve Around Food
Have some active options during the gatherings. Do a karaoke sing off in the living room. Make the basement into a dance floor. Have board games and puzzles at the ready. Take in a movie and go for walks.
Load up on Vegetables
You know veggies are good for you. Load your plate with veggies to get the nutrition you need, and to feel fuller longer. Vegetables can taste great with very little prep. So, go for those raw veggie platters, steamed green beans with almonds and oven roasted root vegetables.
Build Snacks Around Proteins
Grazing is part of the holidays. Instead of boxes of chocolates and tins of butter cookies, put out trays of meat and cheese, bowls of nuts, mixed olives and devilled eggs. These are tasty treats that nourish your body and curb the urge to overeat.
Watch the Booze Intake
Alcohol flows freely at Christmas gatherings, but that doesn’t mean you need to lose control. Drinking too much is bad for your health and leads to poor – and often very regrettable – decisions. If friends and family pressure you to drink, remember that “No” is a complete sentence. No explanation or excuses needed. Determine in advance how much you will drink and stick to that. You’ll save calories and likely some embarrassing situations as well.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Didsbury Dental for helping to expand local news coverage in Alberta. Learn more.
