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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Judith
I never deviate from a healthy diet.
Bacallsmom
Serve a green salad with meals. It fills you up a bit before you start on the meats and starches.
Heather S
I love trying lots of different goodies, so I make sure I take a very small amount so I don't feel deprived but I don't overeat. Also drink lots of water
Timbo
I just tweeted this giveaway here 😀
twitter.com/TimboSquad/status/13787613253079040
Please feel free to contact me at:
allrightyes at gmail dot com
Timbo
Gotta say the finest way to eat healthy for our family is to stick a Mediterranean diet of pastas, fishes, olive oil and other necessary peripherals 😀
Georgia
Tweeted here too
twitter.com/gmissycat/status/13769885779763200
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Georgia
I have to say, I love eating together with family and friends on the holidays. I am usually to busy talking to be eating to much but I do go for the veggies first and that helps me to feel fuller before desert.
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Gina @The Crave To Save
twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/13748030285025281
tweet tweet
gina.m.maddox AT gmail.com
Gina @The Crave To Save
I am going to pay attention to my body and only eat to satisfaction, not to the point that I am overly full.
gina.m.maddox AT gmail.com
Rebecca Graham
I write down everything I eat and that keeps me from overindulging.
Diane in Northern CA
When at a party with a buffet table, pick a place to stand that is furthest away from the food. I then wait to eat until as late as possible; one the nibbling begins it is harder to stop snacking.
Kelly
I'm like you--sweets aren't my thing! I like them, but they have to be REALLY SUPER AWESOME for me to want much more than a few bites. I have to watch myself with savory food, but I love healthy stuff (like raw veggies, steamed veggies, etc.), so it's not too hard for me to find something good (and good for me) to eat. And, since I eat pretty well every day and work out 5 or 6 times a week, a few indulgences aren't the end of the world!
Susan Smith
twitter.com/susan1215/status/13620973295108097
Susan Smith
I eat something healthy before I go to a party and once I'm there I keep drinking water and just sample food. This way I'm not feeling deprived.
Beth Pineda
Try to avoid processed foods- go for fresh when you can.
Benny Williams
tweet:
twitter.com/#!/benny8484/status/13496402583756800