The Holiday season is here, and regardless of the occasion you’re celebrating, there’s bound to be lots of food.
This can make navigating this time of year feel scary or overwhelming if you’re trying to lose weight. And, if you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone! I’ve had conversations with various patients from my Lutrition Nutrition Practice who are feeling exactly this way.
But, I promise that food doesn’t need to feel more complex or overwhelming than any other time of year. To help, take a read of my top tips so that you can have a guilt free Holiday season.
Set Realistic Expectations
Be realistic about the progress you can achieve over the Holiday season. If you know that you’re going to be limited on time to workout, and will be attending multiple dinners or buffets, don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals.
Think about your month ahead. What would be realistic for you to achieve? That could be maintaining your weight, or perhaps only losing half of what you usually aim to lose each month.
Watch Your Portions
Just because you’re trying to lose weight or eat better, it doesn’t mean you need to miss out on your favourite festive foods. Instead, enjoy the foods you want to eat but consider how much you’re eating. If you’re eating cake, could you have a slightly smaller slice? Could you have just 3 celebration chocolates instead of 10?
Make Vegetables Flavourful
Whilst it’s important to eat the foods you love, its also important to make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help keep your body happy and healthy, supporting you to fight off any nasty bugs going around at this time of year.
Remember, vegetables don’t need to be boring. Use herbs and spices to pack a flavoursome punch. Cloves, chilli flakes and turmeric are just a few that I love to use in the Winter.
Eat Mindfully
The Holiday season is busy. This means it can be really easy to rush eating your meals, making it easier to overeat.
Prioritise time to eat your meals. Eat slowly, taking time to chew food properly. Put your knife and fork down between each bite, and remove distractions such as your phone or TV.
By slowing down, you’ll recognise when you feel full sooner. You’ll be surprised the difference this can make to the portion sizes that you eat.
In Summary
You don’t have to miss out on anything this Holiday season in order to avoid feeling guilty. Set realistic expectations, enjoy the foods you love in moderation, slow down at meal times and don’t forget your fruits and vegetables!