By Mike Roussell, PhD
3 Ultimate Holiday Eating Tips
As the holiday season rolls in, navigating the festive feasts without derailing your health goals becomes a real challenge. But this doesn’t mean resisting all temptation (and good food!). It means strategizing.
Here are three ways you can enjoy all the holiday eating without any of the guilt – and without backsliding on your fitness and diet targets.
01 Think 7, not 24:
Think of your body’s energy needs in a 7-day timeframe, not a 24-hour window. This is the finest hack for enjoying Friday and Saturday night holiday parties.
MAKE IT HAPPEN: If you eat 500 calories less than normal on Monday and Tuesday, you’ll give yourself a 1,000-calorie buffer going into the weekend – and not gain a pound.
02 Eat Before The Party:
The worst thing you can do is head to a holiday party on an empty stomach. It’s complete caloric consumption carnage! The fix: Eat a small amount beforehand to dull cravings and slow digestion.
MAKE IT HAPPEN: Eat one apple and a piece of string cheese. The fiber from the apple and the protein and fat from the string cheese combine to encourage satiety and feelings of fullness.
03 Party Smart!
Most holiday parties are loaded with breads, crackers, cookies and cakes. These high-calorie, low-fiber foods are primed to coax you into eating more and more, so work to skip them.
MAKE IT HAPPEN: Sub in shrimp, cheeses, and vegetables. Or at least start with them. They’re great-tasting holiday cocktail party staples. And they’ll actually leave you feeling full.
AUTHOR BIO: Mike Roussell, PhD
Mike Roussell, PhD, is an author, speaker, and nutrition strategist who has spent more than 20 years transforming complex nutritional concepts into practical habits that change lives.
His clients have included NBA all-stars, tech execs, and TV personalities.