Healthy Living Strategies Kuel Category Expert: Diana Devi
It is the holiday season: a time of celebration and a time of temptations! This promises to be very different from previous years…for many reasons. Most of us are paring down our usual preparations for the holidays.
Holiday Traditions Tied To Food:
“Why did I eat all of that?”
Our holiday traditions include food… and lots of it!
We have beautiful arrangements that scream out to be eaten! Many times we eat more than we want or need. The next day we might feel sick or full of regret. You may be asking yourself. “Why did I eat all of that? Why didn’t I stop after one serving….Did I really need to have that third piece of chocolate or those four beautifully decorated cookies?”
Are you depressed and frustrated the next day because you told yourself this year was going to be different?
This Year Can Be Different:
Did you tell yourself, “This year I am only going to eat those foods that are good for me or that I really enjoy. This year I am going to be able to stop after one taste/serving?”
So what happened? How did the same thing happen again this year? Are you asking yourself what is wrong with me?
A friend of mine was joking the other day that this holiday season she was hoping not to turn her COVID-15 (meaning the 15 pounds she gained during COVID) into COVID-20!
11 Simple Ways to Breeze Through Those Holiday Temptations:
1. Do not starve yourself.
If you have not eaten all day you will have less control over how much you do eat. Many times I will have a small protein snack before leaving for a party or before a meal that has numerous temptations.
2. Drink water.
Make sure you are well hydrated BEFORE it is time to eat. Sometimes our body needs water and we think it needs food so we eat and still are not satisfied. The solution is easy! Drink before during and after! Bored with plain water, add a twist of lemon or a shot of orange juice to switch it up a bit. One of my favorite things to add is a slice of lemon and a bit of dried fruit, cranberries or ginger. It make a great hot drink.
3. Pass on the bread or crackers before the meal.
Restaurants have known for years that if you give someone bread or chips to eat before you order you are more likely to order more because you feel hungrier! It is a well known fact that consuming carbs such as bread or crackers stimulates your appetite.
4. Alcohol is an appetite stimulant, especially beer.
You may want to wait until after you have eaten before you have your first cocktail OR, slowly sip your drink until it is time to eat. This will help to control your impulses. Alcohol is a carbohydrate; so just like bread and crackers it stimulates your appetite!
5. Choose only what you know you will enjoy.
Look over everything before you decide what it is that you want to eat.
6. Pick the smallest size plate there is.
If there is not an option, take a very small portion leaving plenty of white space on your plate! This means food is not piled up! Leave space between each of your food items.
“If it does not taste yummy give yourself permission not to eat it.”
7. Whatever you eat should taste amazing.
As Prue Leith from the Great British Baking Show is famous for saying, “not worth the calories“. If it does not taste yummy give yourself permission not to eat it.
8. Once you have eaten, take your plate and silverware away.
Put it in the kitchen or somewhere away from you! If you don’t have a plate or silverware you are not going to be able to pile on more food that you really don’t want to eat.
9. Chew your food well between each bite.
I know it sounds silly but it really works. Chewing your food well lets your brain catch up with messages from your stomach … basically so you know when you are full.
10. DRINK WATER.
I know I said it before … but for many of us the air is dry, the weather is cooler outside, and we are not as well hydrated. We can confuse thirst with hunger.
11. Wear something that is fitted at the waist.
No need to have expanding clothing to allow for excessive eating!
These are simple tips that work, not only during the holidays. but anytime you are someplace that you may be tempted to overeat or to eat the wrong foods!
Relax, breathe and enjoy !
About the Author:
Diana is an empowerment coach for women over 50, building on her 30 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist and as an Argentine tango dancer. Diana’s goal is to help her clients become a W.H.I.P. “A Woman, who is Hot, Intelligent and in her Prime at EVERY age. When Diana is not working with clients or on the dance floor she is training her cats, CleoCatra ( an Egyptian Mau) and D’Artagnan (a Savannah) while patiently waiting for the day she can travel around the world to dance tango again. You can checkout Diana on her website: An Ageless Life.
