How to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

The first mistake, many people do, is to skip food all day because a huge dinner party will be later in the evening. Let me make few comments on this.

If you are hosting the family event in your house this year and cooking festive meals is your responsibility, then do not forget to prepare in advance few snacks, e.g. nuts, fruits, veggies. Remember - do not starve!

Eat your regular meals - breakfast and lunch with proteins. They will help you to burn calories and prevent overeating. We know that the hustle of holiday season can easily cause a shift in our daily meals.

Eat white meat - is leaner than dark meat.

Eat first a healthy appetizer, e.g. salad, then meat, and cooked vegetables. At the end try some potatoes, beets or carrots. This sequence of eating will prevent you from focusing on starchy vegetables. Hopefully you will not eat them at all.

Visualize your portions - use rather a side plate than regular dinner plate. Do you know that in America we have much larger dinner plates than in Europe? Consuming more food than our body can produce enzymes to digest can create symptoms of indigestion. It takes around 20 minutes to signal satiation. Slow down your pace of eating!

Hydrate yourself all day long - remember for every glass of wine (5 oz) you should drink a glass (250ml) of pure water. Also drink water 20 -30 minutes before your holiday meals.

Avoid drinking too much liquid during meals - it can dilute digestive enzymes produced in the stomach. This can increase the likelihood of indigestion, and uncomfortable signals from the body such as heartburn, gas or bloating. Focus on taking small sips through the meal as needed.

Do not deprive yourself - enjoy very small amounts of holiday desserts, but do not forget your goals. Ideally walk after dinner or exercise on the next day.

Remember your goals, either you want to decrease or maintain your weight.

Over- consumption is adding up quickly that you may regret later.
  

Have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Maria