It’s Christmas time, which means ….FOOD + FAMILY. True you already have fought off the sugar blues at the office Christmas party, and were able to bypass the choclates at the grocery store checkout. So now you deserve a BIG treat? Perhaps.
It’s only fair to say that most people GAIN weight over the holiday season (even if they are watching things) anywhere from 5-10 pounds. Stastics state that the average gain is 3 pounds, which I would counter argue to 5. We tend to use Christmas as an excuse to really binge off the deep end. From chocolates, creamy desserts, second helpings and did I forget to mention alcohol?
If you must drink alcohol over the holidays first and formost, have a sober driver to escort you. Secondly interchange alcoholic beverages with water (½ the calories and still the same amount of fun). From a caloric point of view, try mixed drinks with diet pop/juice or soda/tonic water. If you like wine create a spritzer (equal amounts of wine+ club soda). If you like beer choose a light one. As a Holistic Nutritionist I don’t advise my clients to drink alcohol, but if they do I recommend Bombay Saphire Gin + tonic water. It’s lower in calories and that type of gin contains herbs which help to cleanse the liver. Think detoxify while you toxify with less of a hangover.
Much like you, I do believe that Christmas is a time of year to indulge in food, family, friends and fun. As a present to my wonderful clients, I told them to enjoy Christmas dinner and not log it. But I did ( I mean do) expect them to behave and follow portion control on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.This week in the office I coached my clients how to stay on track over the next few food festive days. Here are some of my favorite tips:
1. Pre plan your starch serving for dinner and limit yourself to only one.
2. Say you’re full and skip out on eating dessert all together.
3. Serve Christmas dinner on a smaller plate (no second helpings please).
4. If eating poultry choose the white meat over the dark.
5. Make your plate 2/3 full of vegetables to save calories.
6. Don’t put butter on your potatoes and say no to white rolls or bread.
7. Drink plenty of water before the meal which helps to fill you up faster.
8. Bring a fruit or veggie tray for snacking on prior to the meal.
9. Wear clothes that fit just right, no elastic waist bands.
10. Consider yourself a healthy role model for others, they are watching.
Christmas dinner can include many starch servings (rolls, stuffing, potatoes, yams, corn) so choose the one that you will enjoy the most. With poultry the white meat is leaner and will help to save fat grams. Who needs a roll with Christmas dinner; skipping out on it can save you about 225 calories and 9 grams of fat if it’s coated with butter. And for goodness sakes no gym pants at the dinner table.
So this Christmas have a dietary survival plan and stick to it! I would like to wish all my family, friends, co-workers, clients, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition students and loyal blog readers a safe and Merry Christmas. May 2010 be filled with good health and happiness. If you keep reading my blog in 2010 I’m sure it will be!
Happy Healthy Holidays from all of us at Rachelle Wood Nutrition.