© 2009 NCSU Student Media
It’s that time of the year again. Cool air, holiday music, family gatherings and buffets of temptation will be starring you in the face again.
We’ve made it through the candy corn and caramel apples. Now we must face the stuffing and pies. Then before we know it, the aroma of Christmas cookies and hot cocoa will fill the air. The next month we have Super Bowl chips and wings followed up with a hearty box of Valentine’s Day chocolates. That’s five straight months of feeding. According to the Institute of Food Technologies, Americans tend to gain between 1 to 10 pounds during the end of year festivities.
It’s a tough time for anyone trying to eat healthfully.
I’m not saying we should kick the pecan pie to the curb and eat a bag of carrots while we watch our family fill their plates with turkey, but there are small changes we can make to make the holidays of a regret in January. The holidays should be a time to treat yourself and indulge in cravings, but the average Thanksgiving meal is 3,000 calories. If you snack all day while cooking (which is a given for me), you can easily double that total by the end of the day.
Here’s the good part: you have options. Your first option is to prepare physically by upping your workouts. For example, my friends and I vowed to take the stairs at all times this week. Walking up the stairs for one minute can burn 10 calories. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up.
Don’t walk into a holiday party completely ravenous; eat something light before hand. If you come hungry, chances are you will overindulge. However, don’t vow to not eat anything at an event. Limit your choices to foods that you rarely have and only eat on special occasions.
If you’re asked to bring food to a party, bring a contribution of low-calorie foods such as sliced fresh fruit. This will give you something safe to eat. Also, and this may sound silly, try wearing something snug to your holiday party; it can be a great reminder not to overindulge.
If you’re one of the chefs, try steaming the vegetables. It cuts down on the calories and retains nutrients. Replace white rolls with whole-wheat rolls, which contain more fiber and are lower in calories.
Also, you can try using flavorful substitutes. For example, use fat-free buttermilk in your mashed potatoes.
The bottom line is: try to be conscious of what you eat and how much you eat. Allow yourself special treats but in moderation. Even though it’s the holiday season, that doesn’t mean go crazy; have some days where you stick to your healthy routine.
But most importantly, be realistic. Realize that this is not the best time to start a diet. Try to maintain your weight instead of trying to lose it.
In all of it, don’t forget to enjoy the other aspects of the holidays, such as family and friends, giving thanks, the decorations and the spirit of giving!