This is sponsored content from BlogHer and The Laughing Cow.
How do you eat healthy and manage your portions during the holiday season with everyone showering unhealthy, yet great tasting food choices on you?
Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes eating healthy. Thanksgiving through New Years is a hard time for most people to maintain their waist line. Actually, no matter what time of year, I never like to watch what I eat!
Much of the holidays involves cooking and eating delicious foods made by family and friends. You may think that it isn't possible to enjoy holiday gatherings while eating healthy, and although it may be challenging, I actually think that it can be done!
I am a lucky girl because I don't have a sweet tooth nor am I a big drinker, and as I'm sure you know, alcohol and sweets have a lot of calories. Imagine the fat and calories you can eliminate by simply cutting out desserts and booze!
By not drinking and eating desserts, I am more able to enjoy the appetizers and the main courses. So you see, just by making these couple of adjustments, you can eat and enjoy most everything else, providing that you follow some other basic rules. Here are the rest of my tips for eating healthy and managing your portions during the holiday season...
1. Eat very small portions of everything, this way you can try all of the delicious foods at the parties without getting sick!
2. Only eat things that you really love and make you happy.
3. Eat healthy at home so you can really enjoy yourself at holiday parties.
4. If you have a choice between turkey and red meat, go for the turkey. Oh, and be sure to take the white meat and don't eat the skin if you can help it!
5. Fill your plate with salad before the main meal. By filling up on lettuce, you'll eat less after. Be sure to stay away from fattening dressings or you will defeat the purpose. If you can't find a bottle of low-cal dressing, just use some Balsamic mixed with water and Splenda for a great tasting, low-cal dressing.
6. While at a party, if you have the opportunity...dance, dance and dance. It is a great way to burn calories fast while having fun!
I am giving away a $150 Visa gift card from BlogHer! If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment with your thoughts and tips as to how you eat healthy and manage your portions during the holiday season and you will be entered to win a $150 Visa gift card! Please keep your comments G-rated as any profanity or offensive content will automatically disqualify you from sweepstakes entry.
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Christina Mordenti
I wanted to watch what I ate this year and we lucked out by my husband and I changing our traditions a bit and accepted a family invitation to Christmas Eve. Their Colombian tradition is to celebrate that night instead of on Christmas Day so I did not do my big traditional feast on Christmas afternoon. Since we ate at their house, there were no tempting leftovers in the fridge. They did have a big roasted pig (which I admit I ate because it was awesome) but the rest of the food was pretty healthy, salad with lime dressing, green beans, corn on the cob and some other little bits here and there but they did not have tons of cookies and sweets. All in all, a great solution to filling up on fattening leftovers at my place. We actually had home cooked shrimp stir fry for dinner on Christmas...lol.
Juliana Valles
Japanese Green Tea & a whole lotta walking! xoxo
PauleyD
twitter.com/lpauld68/status/19826988223045632)
Thanks!
PauleyD
My strategy is to stay healthy all year round and indulge around the holiday season. I like to work out and I tend to eat clean year round, so when the holidays roll around I don't feel bad about sampling from the goody tray.
My wife lets herself eat off of one medium sized plate and doesn’t go for seconds.
Denise S
The only way to avoid overeating during the holidays would be to have nothing good in the house. I let myself enjoy it and start over at New Years.
Deci Worland
We cook and bake from scratch, controlling the fat, salt, and sugar at the source.
Becky
heres my tip: don't do it...eat all you want worry in January...
clynsg
Although we have the goodies in the house for the get-togethers, I send the majority of them home with my daughter, who does have the extra appetites in her house! That does not mean, unfortunately, that I might not indulge somewhat while they are here.
Leslie S.
I try to have a healthy snack for every unhealthy one I eat.I try to keep fruits and veggies around as well as cheese and crackers to not be tempted to just eat the junk.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
Laura Emerson
If you are going to parties at friend and neighbors, get together before the holidays and create a healthy list which you all will follow. This way everyone has healthy foods and snacks and you do it as a community.
April
I always try to eat a filling breakfast, usually oatmeal, and a filling lunch with lots of protein and fiber so I'm less likely to snack.
valancia
Try staying away from the goodies and fattening things such as baked goods candy and things loaded with butter sugar or cream and think in your head- I'll pay for this later and maybe that will motivate you. Try drinking beverages more than eating to help you feel fuller
Danielle B.
for portion control i use a smaller plate. tricks the brain into thinking that is how much it will take to get full! sometimes i eat a healthy snack before the party so i am not tempted by the bad stuff. 🙂
Bryanna P.
Awesome blog and thanks for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
Happy New Year!
=]
Becky Horn
my tweet
sweokgrlatgmaildotcom
twitter.com/bdiane34/status/19639993609756672
Becky Horn
To be honest I dont do alot of watching what I eat during the holidays, Its my time to enjoy all the great food. I try to drink extra water though.
sweokgrlatgmaildotcom