Healthy Holiday Eating..

The holiday season is upon us.. and the smell of turkey and pie in the oven is just too much for one to resist.  The holiday season is such a challenging time for all of us.. especially if you are watching your waste line and doing so well with your diet.  There are several things that you can do before heading over to grandma's house and going wild on the appetizers and main entree.

1.  Eat before you go:   IF you can, I would eat a light healthy snack such as cut up fruits and veggies, hummus dip, maybe a smoothie or salad.  This will help fill you up a bit so you are not ravenous when you arrive. 

2.  Bring a healthy appetizer and main entree dish (just in case):  Be prepared that there will probably be some not-so-nutritious snacks and entrees at the main meal.  So I would have a back-up plan just in case.  Maybe make some yummy fruit dips, dark chocolate to keep the sweet tooth at bay.  Here are some great ideas from the blog 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet:

1. Turkey and Cheese Roll Ups

These snacks are a great source of protein and make for a nice deviation from all of the sugary treats sure to be present throughout the season. Purchase some turkey deli meat and some thinly sliced low fat cheese, such as Swiss. Roll a slice of turkey and a slice of cheese together, then cut the roll into thirds or fourths and place a toothpick in each piece. Eat a few of these filling snacks and it’ll be easier to pass up that second cookie.

2. Hummus, Pita Chip and Vegetable Tray

Skip the mayonnaise-based dips and opt for hummus instead. While still high in fat content, hummus is high in fiber and protein. It tastes great with pita chips and is an especially effective snack when consumed on vegetables like carrot and celery sticks. You can make your own or purchase some in the store. For simplicity’s sake, buy a small container of hummus.

4. Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

It’s no wonder this snack is always mentioned as a healthy option for a dessert treat in fitness magazines and health cookbooks. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants. They’re sweet enough to eat on their own, but around the holidays there’s no shame in dipping them in some dark chocolate for an extra tasty treat. Melt some dark chocolate in a pan over the stove (this will work best if you place the pan with the chocolate within a pot of boiling water). Dip the strawberries in, and then place them on some wax paper in the fridge to harden for several hours.
The best strategy for snacking in the holiday season is to make you calories count. Make sure whatever you eat has at lease some nutritional value.

3.  Healthy snacks for the road or while in the air:

Consider packing healthy bars, crackers, and nuts in a tupperware container.  Or consider these portion control bowls

Or if you are driving.. bring a cooler full of healthy drinks and sandwiches.  This way you will not have to stop through the old drive-thru at your favorite fast food joint or rely on a gas station with high calorie over processed snacks. 

4.  Keep exercising.. bring work-out gear for your stay at Grandma's:

or if you are like me.. take advantage of running on a country road

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5. Get centered and prepare.....

So you know that there will be green bean casserole with a zillion calories, mashed potatoes made with heavy whipping cream.  Just know that this will be a very tempting time to stick your face right in that plate.

Prepare in your mind days before how you are going to fight temptation, maybe wear uncomfortable clothing.. so you will no-way be able to expand your pants.

Keep reminding yourself how good you will feel when you leave your holiday party if you go easy on the high calories food.  No GI distress, and you will most likely sleep better.