Avoiding Holiday Temptations While Still Making Merry

It’s no surprise people consider the holiday season the most challenging time for maintaining weight loss. When you think of all the food-related activities that happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, one could feed an army with all the cookies exchanged, potatoes mashed, and champagne bubbling. This year you’ll no doubt attend office parties and family dinners where people insist you try this and that, and why worry about dieting during the holidays…indulge! It only happens once a year.

Yes, we do tend to rationalize over-eating in these situations as special occasions we can’t recapture, but if you go too far and take in more than what you try to burn off, you’ll discover much of what you gain this season is there the next.

So how do you attend holiday gatherings without coming off as a total bah humbug? You could stay at home to avoid temptation, particularly when everybody else dives into those butterscotch haystacks and fruitcake cookies without abandon, but then you deprive yourself of holiday companionship. There is no reason why you cannot enjoy yourself this season – just take care to make wise food choices at that office mixer or open house. Here are few tips to consider.

Refrain From  or Limit Alcohol: Alcoholic drinks like spiked nog and hot buttered rum can be quiet caloric, and really don’t offer any nutritional value. If you do wish to imbibe at a party, stick with half a glass of red wine (which contains antioxidants and is believed to carry certain health properties in moderation).

Help Yourself to the Veggie Tray: Look for the carrot sticks, the broccoli spears, and the cucumber slices when you hit the snack buffet, as the veggies are definitely healthier than the fried fingers foods and dough-wrapped cocktail wieners. If you don’t want them plain, ask your host if there is a fat-free dip available, or else just a smattering of hummus for flavor.

Spare the Sauce, Savor the Meat: Carving stations offer you nice cuts of lean turkey and roast beef, and it’s good to have some protein on the menu. However, don’t drown your dinner in gravy or caloric mayos or horseradish sauce. You’ll find the flavor of the meat, if cooked well, stands well on its own.

Split the Dessert: If you have made room in your eating plan for something sweet, enjoy what is offered within reason. Offer to split the sweet with your spouse or companion, or else opt for the fruit dessert if available.

Knowing what to expect when you go out for the holidays can help you enjoy the season without packing on winter pounds.

Kathryn Lively writes about Hampton Roads health issues.