Dealing with Holiday Heft

Within the blink of an eye, the holiday season has snuck up on us once again.
Even now, plans are beginning to be made regarding Thanksgiving dinner. People are starting to call regarding holiday parties and events. Along with all the festive planning, we need to remember to enjoy ourselves while maintaining our wonderful health and habits.
Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and medical nutritionist therapist/board certified sports dietitian and co-founder of Nutrition for You (www.nu4you.net) has 13 years of experience as a professional, passionate weight-loss specialist dedicated to improving quality of life for his clients.
Villacorta has developed the following tips for keeping the weight off during the holidays:
BREAKFAST: Start your day with a high fiber breakfast. Eating breakfast, will not only jump start your metabolism but will also help to control your appetite for the rest of the day. Breakfast skippers tend to overeat at lunch and/or get the incredible “sweet tooth” at around three to four o’clock in the afternoon. If you skip breakfast, you are beginning the day in a deficit that your body naturally wants to make up. This can lead to greater caloric consumption throughout the day.
SNACK OFTEN: Remember to eat every three-four hours or have a snack in order to not skip meals or eat at irregular meal times, which can result in the risk of overeating. Carry appropriate snacks such as five dried apricots, six almonds, and one Babybel light cheese in a plastic bag so that the desire to grab those holiday sweets is diminished.
SHARE PORTIONS: When eating out at restaurants, sharing portions makes the occasion more intimate and special. Eat slowly at the festivities. By enjoying one another’s company, it takes longer to chew and digest the food. After about 20 minutes, our bodies recognize satiety, which will assist one from overeating.
EAT HEALTHY: Bring a healthy dish to the holiday festivities. Not only will others enjoy the dish, but you will have something light and healthy to eat, too.
SAMPLE DISHES: When at the party, do not deny yourself the pleasure of tasting food. Instead, choose your few favorite dishes you would like to try and take small portions of each. A good portion size would be the size of your palm.
SET NON-FOOD GOALS: Determine your goals for the holiday season. For example, do not make food the center of attention. Instead, focus on enjoying other activities. Mentally go through the event, picturing yourself as a success.
STICK WITH YOUR PLAN: By maintaining and planning, we can be prepared for times when we might be hungry or tempted.