Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

Eating healthy throughout the year is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Taking in the right amounts of healthy food gives you the fuel you need for your active lifestyle, like your Legends Boxing classes. It can be really challenging, though, to keep your healthy eating cruising during the holidays.

The two biggest speed bumps on the road to healthy eating go by the names of Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are ways to enjoy the holiday feasts without setting you back, though. Use these healthy eating tips to find a balance between enjoying the holidays and staying on track with your fitness.

Set Your Standards—and Stick to Them

The first thing to do is to decide how you want to eat. This goes for the holiday season in general, as well as leading up to each individual feast. Think about how you eat on a normal day throughout the year versus what you tend to have for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other holidays. Then decide what you will allow yourself on those days.

You can do the math in advance. If you usually eat a low carb diet, decide how many carbs you will enjoy on Thanksgiving, and calculate what that means in terms of mashed potatoes and other holiday goodies. This will take the guesswork out of the feast and let you enjoy yourself while knowing your limits.

Eat Small Portions

We hear all the time that portion control is key to healthy eating. This is especially the case during the holidays. You can get each holiday meal off to a good start if you take small portions. Force yourself to go for more food instead of already having it on your plate. And really think about it before you do.

Wait at Least 10 Minutes Before Seconds

Speaking of which, always wait at least 10 minutes before heading back to the buffet or asking for more. This will give your body time to adjust from intake to digestion. You don’t feel as full while you are eating as you do a few minutes after pausing.

Drink Water

A great way to stick with your holiday healthy eating goals is to drink water with your meal. You can still enjoy wine, beer, or other offerings if it is in your eating plan, but drink water as well. It will help you feel full faster. It will also help you stay hydrated while consuming the salt and alcohol included in many holiday feasts.

Make Room for Veggies

You can also fill a good portion of your plate with healthy vegetables. You know the stuff that you just can’t find room for because your plate is full of potatoes and dressing? Go for those first and cut off the extra holiday calories before they make it to your plate.

Don’t Go Hungry Before Feasting

One thing a lot of us get wrong is trying to balance our holiday calories by taking in less food and even skipping meals before a big holiday. This can be very counterproductive because it often leads to overeating as we go crazy when we sit down to all that food with a huge appetite. You actually want to eat a little something before Thanksgiving dinner so you can keep your appetite under control.

Keep Moving

While you won’t have boxing class to go to on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, you can still get some exercise to help your body process all that holiday goodness. Plan some light exercise with members of your family or with some of your workout friends. You can go for a nice long walk a little while after the big meal. It can help you feel so much better.

The holidays are a great time for family, friends, and celebration. Set some goals and work out your strategy for healthy holiday eating in advance. It will help you stay healthy and feeling good throughout the season. Between celebrations, you can keep coming to class at Legends Boxing. Check out our blog for more helpful tips!