Healthy Holiday Eating Habits
We all know that we must eat healthy foods so that we can remain mentally and physically fit and lower the stress levels, anxiety and depression and prevent various chronic diseases such as obesity and other risk factors. Eating healthy can also boost our energy levels that will enable us to be more productive with our schoolwork. During the holiday season, it can be hard to keep track of our diet, especially when you’re at a party and/or gathering with family and friends and food galore. However, even though it might be hard to keep our diet in check and eat healthy during the holidays, it is still very important to eat healthy so that our mind and body can remain healthy. In this article, we’ll discuss a few tips that help us to eat healthy during the holidays.
Budget (Calorie) Wisely
When I say this, I speak for everyone that when we lay our eyes on a variety of foods laid out on the dining table especially during holidays, we have this uncontrollable urge to taste/relish every single dish. Regardless of how tempting it can be when we see varieties of food at our fingertips, it goes without saying that this may not be the best approach to satiate our temptation/hunger. Instead, eat your most favorite foods in smaller portions to minimize your calorie intake. Additionally try not to eat too much of the same food because that can also be harmful to your health and body. One way that you can achieve this goal is by setting your own personal limit on food intake. However, remember to eat the correct amount of food because not eating enough and eating too much can be dangerous to your health.
Be Buffet Savvy
When you’re at a buffet or feast, first go around the food table and make a note of all the options before you start to pick out food. This will help you limit yourself and choose your favorites. It could also let you know of some healthy options early on so that you can plan your meal to balance it with the healthy options, instead of having too much unhealthy food on your plate to the point where you can not fit any healthy items.
Take 10 Minutes Before Taking Seconds
Before taking seconds at a party, take a 10 minute break which shouldn't be hard because we are surrounded by family and/or friends. This is very effective because this is the time the stomach takes to digest our food and also helps us sense the STOP signal. After the stomach digests the food, you can then decide whether your stomach really wants you to take seconds and how much you really want to take. If you have a strong urge for food and can’t wait for 10 minutes, try distracting yourself by having a conversation with someone or doing something else that doesn’t involve eating or drinking.
Taking the Right Amount
Taking the amount of food that you need to satiate your hunger is very healthy. All of us must’ve heard that wasting food doesn’t help the hunger but I’d add that overeating also won’t help the hungry. In order to do this, try to figure out how much food you personally need. It is very important to make sure that you have enough food, which creates energy to carry out daily activities. On the other hand, it also is not good to eat excessively because then you will increase calorie intake, which will result in excessive weight gain that you do not need.
Do not Stand Next to the Food Table
When you’re at a party, try not to stand next to the food table so that you do not get tempted to mindlessly eat. Mindless eating can make you eat delicious stuff and you wouldn’t know whether you're full or not. Mindless eating can cause people to increase their calorie intake. If you're prone to recreational eating, put a mint or some gum in your mouth to stop yourself from mindlessly eating. When you stand next to the food table you will feel forced to eat because of the smells and that it feels so easy to just go and have a bite. Never ever watch TV or be on any social media while eating food as we tend to ignore the STOP signal easily and overeat.
Do not go to a Party with an Empty Stomach
Before going to a party, try to have some healthy food. While most people usually think that you shouldn’t eat anything before going to a party, it is actually better to do the opposite. In this way, you wouldn’t come to the party hungry. When you come to the party hungry, you’d end up eating more junk food at the party because a lot of party foods are junk foods you do not want to put yourself in a position where you need to eat junk food just because you can’t find healthy food.
Do not Shop Hungry
Just like how you need to eat before going to a party, one needs to eat before going shopping as it might lead to low blood sugar, intense food craving and overeating. If you’re hungry while shopping, the rich aroma of different foods might tempt us into buying it. This can lead us to buy more food than what is needed. Also, seeing lots of food when shopping can cause you to starve even more and you would wish that you were eating those foods that you saw.
Exercise
Try to exercise and burn some calories before or after eating. If you’re eating alone, you have a lot more options for how you want to exercise but if you’re at a gathering it might be a feasible option to put on dancing and/or walking shoes to burn off those extra calories.
Make Room for Veggies and Fruits
The percentage of people not eating vegetables and/or fruit increased in these last few years and the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic may also have led some students to eat unhealthy food. Even though there’s a lot of junk food at parties, there might be some veggies and fruits/salads in the corner. Try to find those veggies to use them as snacks. Some veggies can also be used as main meals. Veggies contain more healthy minerals and vitamins, thus, making it a better option.
Pay attention to what matters in the Holiday Season
While it is arguably true that usually the holiday season is largely centered around food, we can always strive towards making them not just about food. The most important thing in the holiday season is to spend time and connect with family and friends. At the end of the day, excessive indulging in a holiday meal will have a major impact on the body and overall health. Just remember to pay attention to your diet and focus on having fun with family and friends during the holiday season. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Cover Image: https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2024/11/20241113-healthier-holiday-eating.article.html
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