HEALTHY & HAPPY DINING
Hello everyone & welcome back to the Blog. Here we are! December is here again and with it the rush of holiday celebrations and plans for the New Year.
This time of year is filled with fun, family, friends, festivities and, of course, food. And enjoying ourselves while maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes a balancing act that can be rather tricky.
Yet, rather than spend the holidays — or any day — in fear of food or over-eating and denying ourselves the culinary joys of the season, we can compromise with a few simple suggestions.
DON’T COOK HUNGRY
We all know not to grocery shop when we’re hungry. The same is true when we cook. After all, we all love to taste-test our culinary efforts and a bite or two here and there is necessary for achieving that perfect dish for friends and family. But don’t eat half the meal in the process. Try having a light snack before you start cooking. Maybe some fruit and low-fat cottage cheese. Perhaps a handful of whole wheat crackers. Have some tomato juice, a hard-boiled egg, some yogurt or a cup of hot soup handy. These are simple hacks that will keep hunger pangs out of the kitchen and keep you focused on the cooking.
PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING
When you sit down to eat, don’t be distracted. Pay attention to your food. Appreciate each dish and allow yourself to savor the sights and smells of your food as well as the flavor. It is said that first we feast with our eyes. Use your sense of sight to take note of the colors, arrangements and patterns of the food on your plate. Then use your sense of smell to take in the aromas of spice, heat and herbs. Then allow your taste buds to savor the fabulous flavors before you. Enjoying the entire experience with all your senses will encourage you to eat more slowly and consume less.
MANAGING THE BUFFET
What to do when you’re faced with tables and tables of food at that holiday soiree? First, take a tour. Survey the choices. Then take a plate and start with vitamin-rich veggies, nuts, fruit and grilled proteins. Shrimp is a great choice here, as is chicken, turkey or fish. Then give yourself permission to indulge in that one item you just can’t live without and move on. Remember that foods high in fiber and protein will satisfy your hunger and keep you feeling full for hours.
SAY YES TO DESSERT
The holidays in particular scream for celebration! Accordingly, dessert should never be off limits. Denying ourselves will only make us feel deprived. So, have a piece of that chocolate. Try a cookie. Take a slice of that pie or cake, but don’t eat all of it. Just a few bites of dessert will satisfy the most persistent sweet tooth. Take each bite slowly, chew thoughtfully, and savor the flavor. A little bit of sugar and sweetness will go a long way.
STAY HYDRATED
Sometimes when we feel hungry it really has nothing to do with a lack of food. You see, when we become dehydrated our body can become confused and will send a signal to our brain that it’s hungry. These false hunger cues are hard to ignore and before we know it, we’re reaching for the nearest snack. However, we can avoid this unnecessary eating if we drink 8 ounces of water every one to two hours which will keep our bodies evenly hydrated throughout the day. By doing this, when we feel hunger, we’ll know it’s the real thing. And remember to balance fire water with good old H2O. For every alcoholic beverage consumed, a glass of plain or sparkling water will help keep our waistline trim.
The holidays are meant to be shared, enjoyed and celebrated. And festive food is a huge part of that celebration. So have fun and partake in your favorite foods at this special time of year and all year long. Just keep the word “moderation” and these few food hacks in mind, and you’ll have no trouble at all balancing a good time with good health well into the New Year.
Thanks for joining me everyone! And until next time, enjoy the holiday season, stay healthy, happy and . . .
TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!
Leave a Comment