Holiday Healthy Eating

By Kelly Berry, RD, LD, clinical dietitian, Fisher-Titus

It’s that time of year again…

The average American will gain 5 -10 pounds during the holidays. An extra 500 calories a day for one week equals one pound of weight gain. Are you ready to take on the challenge of maintaining your weight or even losing a few pounds? If so, here are some ideas you can use at your next holiday gathering.

First ask yourself do you eat to live or live to eat? Our bodies were designed to eat to live. Providing ourselves nutrition and energy is our goal.

Secondly, we need to move away from thinking any food is “bad.” Although many foods are not healthy, you still can enjoy them from time to time as part of a healthy diet. Smaller portions and recipe substitutions are two ways of managing your weight.

Keep busy with holiday tasks such as gathering with friends to wrap gifts or decorate an elderly neighbor’s house. Focus on the fun, not on the food.

When going to a party ask yourself if you need the entire plate full of food or if you can grab a few foods to try using a napkin instead of a plate.

Restaurant portions in America have increased greatly over the years. When grabbing fast food, think about changing to an order of small fries or ordering the kids fruit choice. You can also save up to 300 calories by ordering a diet beverage or water in replace of sugary soda. When ordering at a restaurant, choose vegetables as an appetizer, avoid deep fried foods and sauces or creams that often cover the entrée.

Keep in mind, the small steps can add up to big rewards. What is your New Year’s Resolution? Cutting out an extra 100 calories a day will help you to lose 10 pounds in one year.