Healthy Holiday Eating
During holiday season, many of us worry about weight gain and focus on restraining ourselves from the foods we really love to eat. Focusing on avoiding food, however, may actually create a sense of deprivation that sets us up for overeating. Instead, let’s learn to tune into our body signals of hunger and fullness and realize what our physical cravings for specific foods are. The more we can relax about food, the less likely we will have a problem over the holidays!
Taking new approaches with these tips:
1. Plan to eat at a holiday party. Instead of eating before you go to a party in order to control temptations…if you feel hungry go ahead and eat! Try to really go for what your body craves. If you eat exactly when you are hungry, and exactly what you are hungry for…the food will taste more satisfying and you will eat less!
2. You don’t have to stick to carrots and celery sticks at a party. If you are really craving low-fat foods than that is great! But if you eat them when you really want something else, you will find yourself overeating later in response to the deprivation.
3. Choose comfortable, flattering holiday party outfits that make you feel sexy! Instead of wearing tight outfits to remind yourself not to eat, wear something special that will make you feel attractive and good about yourself to prevent emotional overeating at parties. Anxiety usually leads to compulsive overeating.
4. Instead of forcing yourself to say “No thanks, not today….” Love yourself enough to say “YES” when you feel like saying yes and “NO” when you feel like saying no. Trust yourself, stop stressing, count your blessings and truly enjoy what this holiday season may bring!