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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julieh
I drink big glasses of water before a meal, and eat fruit and veggies to fill up before other treats.
Happi Shopr
I keep fresh veggies washed, cut and ready to munch on instead of sweets.
sillygirl
I dish up my husband's plate - then I fix my plate with 1/4 of what I gave him. We also have fresh fruit for dessert. I cook sweets but share most of it with my neighbors - the rest goes in the freezer. And I keep up my exercise program!
karen
Just plain discipline!
Becca
Eat really healthy at home so you can indulge a bit when you go out. Thanks!
Susan C.
I like to sample a small amount of everything, but will only take a "full" portion of the very few things I like the most.
Debra Hall
eat lots of fruit
Jennifer M
I eat a big healthy dinner before I go out to parties so I'm not as hungry.
Jennifer gersch
I try to fill up on soup for the holidays
ashley
i try to always leave a couple of bites of whatever i'm eating. that helps me to cut back a little
Marci P
I tweetedtwitter.com/#!/_mongoose/status/17770795170267137
buddhistmom at gmail dot com
Marci P
I lost 30 pounds last year by just cutting out junk food and soda. I don't like veggies but I do eat a lot of fruit and pasta.
I have three teens who are all thin and in good shape. We eat dinner together every night and I make sure that there are healthy options in the house, not cookies and candy -- except this time of year, you have to have Christmas cookies! Lol!
buddhistmom @ gmail dot com
Patricia
I eat more salad and veggies so I can skip over the more fattening food choices. I also choose water to drink.
Carolina
If you are a food lover, no matter how much your body is telling you: "stop, I am FULL" you probably will continue eating!
If you are like me, this is the advice... stop driving and walk!
Walk everywhere you can! Take your dog out for a longer walk! Invite friends to exercise with you. Play wii and move your body like if you mean it!
You don't need to become an Athlete!!! You just need to burn extra calories to enjoy the holiday treats!
Merry Christmas and Happy new year!
Adriana
I am a big Foodie! I love food and I love to eat!! This year, I am sticking to traditional Colombian food that is not eaten everyday. I am also doing only one dish per course. Appetize = Empanadas, Dinner = Sancocho cooked over the fire pit with a cabbage salad and Dessert = Buñuelos with Chocolate.It will still be tasty but there will not be so much different food to over do it on.
Lathres B
I keep Mini Babybel in a cooler in my car with fruit and water. It's a great snack and keeps me from eating fatty deserts when I arrive at Holiday Parties.