Most of us know that spiked eggnog, mini sausage rolls, turkey stuffing and mincemeat pie aren’t diet foods. And if you don’t know this, you’ll find hundreds and hundreds of pages doling out holiday eating advice on the Internet. Eat this, not that. Don’t skip meals to save calories. Fill your plate with veggies first. And so on.
I’m not saying this is bad advice. (I’ve given it over and over again.) Quite the contrary.
Many people want eating strategies for this time of year. As a registered dietitian in private practice, my clients now ask me for these tips daily.
Holiday weight gain slight for healthy-weight people
After all, a month’s worth of overeating can spell trouble come January 1st. But not as much as you might think.
Research suggests that healthy weight individuals gain just a little over one pound during the holidays. People who are already overweight tend to gain an average of five pounds.
The real issue: An additional pound – or few – tends to accumulate year after year. What’s most important to weight control is what you do January through November, not at the company holiday party.
My holiday eating strategies
This year, it’s time for holiday eating advice that focuses on the “to do’s” versus the “don’t do’s”. I won’t tell you to lay off the fruitcake or how many calories are in a jalapeno popper.
Instead, I’ll tell you how I, a registered dietitian, handle a season that celebrates chocolate, sugar cookies and high fat hors d’ouevres.
I let myself enjoy my favourite holiday foods, but I am careful about my food choices especially since my busy schedule is already preventing me from getting in my regular personal training sessions at the gym.
Do a short workout
What I will do, however, is fit in a quick cardio workout as often as I can – whether it’s at the gym, on my Stairmaster at home, or outside at my cottage on the weekend. I know that even a 20-minute run, power-walk or stair climb will burn 200 to 250 calories and reduce my appetite.
Plus, I always feel good afterwards. It’s hard for me to rationalize cancelling out that calorie burn by eating two tiny deep-fried hors d’ouevres. (Unless, of course, it’s something I really love.)
Be choosy
That brings me to my next strategy: I am picky. I don’t waste my extra calories on foods that aren’t that special, foods I can have all year round. I will pass on the cheese and crackers, chips and salsa, and so on.
Instead I will enjoy a small portion of the holiday treats I enjoy. For me, that means one rum and eggnog (light eggnog if possible), my mother’s melting shortbread cookies, my homemade turkey stuffing, and, I must admit, I will indulge on a couple of Swedish meatballs (it’s once a year!).
When it comes to cocktail hors d’ouevres, I choose ones that pack more protein and help me feel satisfied. (They’re also lower in calories and unhealthy fats than most other hors d’ouevres.)
My picks include chicken satay, shrimp and cocktail sauce (tastes great and only 55 calories for 5 large shrimp), smoked salmon and sushi.
I don’t have a sweet tooth. That certainly helps this time of year. With the exception of my mom’s shortbread, I can easily side step trays of cookies, tarts and chocolate without batting an eye.
Eat a snack before you go
For starters, I always arrive at a cocktail party or dinner with a little something in my stomach. I make a point of having a snack one hour beforehand – yogurt, fruit, a small handful of nuts, vegetables and hummus, or a cup of vegetable or bean soup.
If I miss this snack, it’s game over. I arrive hungry and eat more than I intended to.
Make a game plan
For me, it’s also important to have a plan of attack. I decide in advance to limit my intake to, say, three little hors d’ouevres. If dinner follows the cocktail party, I’ll skip the hors d’ouevres. Easy to do since I’ve eaten a healthy snack just an hour ago.
If I choose to drink, I will decide in advance to have one or two glasses of wine. To keep track, I don’t let servers keep re-filling a half empty glass.
When it comes to holiday eating, I’m a regular person. I indulge (but don’t overindulge), maintain some level of exercise (but less than usual), and resume my typical routine after the holidays.
All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.