21 Days of Healthy Holiday Habits–Plan Your “Cheats”
Hey guys! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far. Today’s topic is appropriate for the weekend since that is usually when most people tend to go off their normal eating routine. One tip that I know has helped me stay on track during the holidays is planning ahead of time when I want to indulge and what I want to eat or drink on that occasion.
Just as I talked about a bit in yesterday’s post, it is all too easy to totally go off the rails and gorge ourselves on less than ideal foods constantly throughout the holidays. Besides the many parties, food-based gifts are all too common this time of year, as well. If you work in the average corporate office you probably have a new batch of goodies coming in every day, making it tough to make it through a shift without succumbing to temptation.
Instead of partaking in every new round of treats, try to look ahead at your week and pick out the one or two times where you know you would really like to have a little indulgence. If you know you have an event or two on the weekend, make sure to do your meal prep for the week prior and try to eat really well without partaking in any extra junk food. The day of the event, still make sure to eat lots of fresh whole fruits and veggies during the day so you will not be starving when it’s time to head out. That way you also know you have already gotten in most of the nutrients you need for the day before you splurge on some less nutrient-dense foods.
There may also be a certain food or beverage that a friend or family member makes that you really love. If that’s the case, then only have grandma’s special cookies and pass on all of the other store-bought cakes. I know some people really like to have one full meal a week where they can forget about any kind of restraint, but I prefer to pick one category to indulge in so that I still stay somewhat moderate. I also know I hate the way I feel if I really overdo it, so most of the time it’s really not worth it.
As a final note, I would also suggest really taking a look at what you are picking for your treats. Try to find things that are made with love and care for ingredients to indulge in instead of something factory-made. Many times even if these local, hand-made goods have a little bit more sugar, fat, salt or alcohol than you would normally consume, the ingredients may be sourced better with less added preservatives and you are putting the money you spent right back into the community. You may even come to find you can make some of the best treats right in your own kitchen with ingredients you feel great about using!
