“Tis the Season to Be…” Jolly, of course, but also TEMPTED! As we approach the final month of 2017, we all know that it is the cheeriest time of the year, but it is also a time filled with constant temptations to eat, drink, and be merry!
And, of course, since we know you all practice proper oral hygiene, such as daily brushing, and cleaning your tongue with your TUNG Brush and Gel, everything will taste so much merrier!
But such temptation awaits around every corner…parties, dinners with friends and family and work festivities abound and it is fair to say that every single event is going to offer all of the yummiest treats imaginable to tempt every palate, to tease every man, woman and child and to make us face the (not necessarily) inevitable result of the season – weight gain.
After all, how do you say no to all of the cookies, candies, gingerbread houses, eggnog concoctions and more without thinking of yourself as a party pooper?
You don’t have to be a party pooper!
You can go have fun and enjoy all of the festivities, including the eggnog concoctions and the gingerbread houses, but with a little bit of strategy and planning, you don’t have to move up to another clothing size to do it!
Here are just a few tips to help you enjoy the holidays without bloating your way into 2018 😉:
- Use smaller plates: Remember when your mom or grandma told you to “clean your plate”? This psychological signal is still with you. So, how about using a smaller plate as you head to the buffet table – you can still clean your plate, but you will have eaten less!
- Eat slower: The faster you eat, the less time your brain has to register the fact that you have eaten and that you may just be full. If you savor your meal, eat and chew more slowly, your brain will be able to keep up and you will feel fuller.
- Wait until you take seconds: Now that you have mastered the art of eating slower, how about stepping away from the table to admire the tree or to look at the view before you take second helpings? Your mind will have the chance to tell you you really don’t need that second helping.
- Avoid white foods: This holds true throughout the year, but with the plethora of home-baked breads and mashed potatoes, it’s a good time to remind you that whole grains and sweet potatoes are better for you and contain fewer empty carbs.
- Drink lots of water: It will fill you up and…hydrate you for that Christmas caroling!
Are you the hostess with the mostest?
If you are hosting a party, how about remembering a few of these tips:
- Serve veggies: A nice tray of cut-up vegetables with a low-fat dip is a perfect way to be festive, and is much healthier for you and your guests than even a cheese tray, which will add fat to the diet. Veggies are full of fiber, too, so you and your guests will feel fuller.
- Send your guests home with food: If you have some Tupperware ready as the evening winds down, you can send some of your yummy creations home with your guests and you won’t over-indulge the next morning.
- Freeze leftovers: Instead of eating everything the day after, how about freezing your leftovers for use later on? Since you have cooked up a storm, why not enjoy your efforts effortlessly at some future date?
- Turn off the TV!: No, we know you can’t get by without gathering round the TV to watch The Grinch or Elf or one of your own favorite movies, and we sure know how many of you will watch your favorite team play around the holidays. But be selective and mindful. Studies have shown that not only will you be inundated with commercials touting a whole lot of junk foods, but that most of us reach for the chips and candies without even realizing it when we are tuned in to the tube. How about playing a board game instead – Christmas Trivial Pursuit, anyone?
- Serve eggnog in tall, thin glasses: Research shows less liquid is poured into tall, think glasses than short, full ones. And, you tend to sip more than guzzle when you have a taller glass.
Oh, but I really, REALLY want more gingerbread!
It’s ok! Understand your cravings. Don’t punish yourself. After all, gingerbread houses are only built once a year. But understand the craving. If you are mindful of it, you may just eat PART of the roof instead of the whole house!
Here’s a toast (with a skinny glass of eggnog 😊) to all of you, to your holidays and to your mindful celebrating!
