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.
Rules:
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d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Click here for the official rules and don't forget to visit "The Daily Dose of Well-Being" to check out other blogger's stories and for more chances to win.
Also keep in mind the following as per the official rules:
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-Entries must be written in English. Sorry to anyone who only writes in Spanish, but I don’t make the rules 🙂
Mary B
I'm drinking more water and adding a twist of lemon - refreshing!!!!I
Debbie Bellows
i tweeted about this promotion
twitter.com/bellows22/status/16280502990274560
Debbie Bellows
It's really difficult to eat healthy during the Holidays and I am sad to say that sometimes I don't - I wish I had better willpower -
debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com
ohkeeka
I fill up on veggies as appetizers so I'm not as hungry by the time dinner rolls around. And during dinner, I also load up my plate with veggies and have smaller portions of starches and other less-healthy foods.
Jeff
I have retweeted.
twitter.com/mrcheapo/status/16179345429106688
Jeff
Drink lots of water. Walk daily or goto the gym. Watch your carb intake at parties.
Steve W.
Try and stick with small portions; pick healthier items to eat.
Christine
drink a lot of water
Paige
If that cookie is calling my name, I allow myself a bit of wiggle room and eat it. If that cookie is calling my name every minute of everyday, I try to exhibit some self control. The bottom line: the holidays are a time to enjoy! Don't deprive yourself!
paigewiley16 AT gmail DOT com
Leah B
Waistline - that’s a scary word! It’s the hardest part of my body to keep under control, especially because I do like to drink alcohol. When I eliminate alcohol my stomach slowly flattens. The most effective workouts I found focus specifically on your stomach, side and back muscles and challenge those muscles in a variety of ways. A core fitness class I took once gave me the best abs ever… for awhile. I wish I could still take that class. I have a yoga for abdominals workout (with Rodney Yee) that makes my stomach burn and if I did that everyday I’m sure I wouldn’t have any problems. So I say: drink fewer calories, be active and work your core muscles daily.
Katie
-When the roads aren't snow covered I run.
-When the roads are snow covered I do yoga.
-No matter what I dedicate one hour a day to moderate to intense activity 6 days a week.
-I eat 2 snacks & 3 meals a day and do not eat out.
-Most of all I don't obsess about it. No food is off limits. The more I obsess the wider my waisline gets.
Marcy
I just started to really focus on losing weight and staying healthy. So I got a pedometer which is great and started walking half hour every evening. Instead of eating meat, we use soy. I use soy crumbles instead of ground meat when the recipe calls for ground beef. I also love to bake and I try to substitute honey for sugar in the recipes.
Lyndsey
I do enjoy a glass of wine with a meal, but don't eat many sweets. I think it's all in the portion size. Eat smaller amounts or use a smaller plate. I advoid that over stuffed feeling at all costs! I am also happy with a bite to taste some good things and stop there! 😀 Drink plenty of water!
LAMusing
I go ahead and indulge in the goodies without guilt - but I make sure my other meals are VERY healthy and lo cal
Norma
I just eat smaller portions so I can enjoy everything - and I make sure I get my servings of fruit, veggies and proteins each day
Nadine L
I tweetedtwitter.com/#!/eyzofblu63/status/14877752670814210