It's The Most Wonderful (Food) Time Of The Year

About author / Pamela Chester

Mom of two; graduate French Culinary Institute; kids cooking program instructor; Master's degree in food studies. Creates kid friendly foods and loves her slow cooker.

We’re just one weekend into the holiday season, and I’ve practically popped a few buttons already! As we peruse all the magazines, internet, and old handwritten family recipes to make the first batch of cookies, I can feel my waistline start to grow. I know if I’m not careful, a year’s worth of hard work at the gym and healthful eating can go down the drain in a matter of a few weeks.

It’s like this every holiday season. I try so hard all year to maintain fitness, just to put it all in peril as the year comes to a close. But the holidays are so closely tied to food and indulgence that it’s more than worth it for many of us food lovers. We’ll just run a few more miles or put in more time at the gym in the New Year, right?

In the meantime, here are just a few kinder, gentler, and nutritionally sound ideas to keep your holiday eating in check this year:

Pay Attention to What You Eat: If you find yourself mindlessly munching chips and dips at holiday parties or bread at a restaurant meal, you’re not alone. Holiday gatherings go hand in hand with salty and crunchy snacks and appetizers. But to really enjoy your food, take a moment to focus on each bite. Studies have shown that if you really take the time to take in the appearance, smell, and taste of your food, you are less likely to eat too much.

Plan Ahead for Snacks and Parties: Running around all day can leave one frazzled and starving at the end of the day. So plan ahead to have healthy snacks on hand and to take in a small healthy meal before holiday gatherings so you are not as prone to overindulge on high calorie offerings. Just a cup of vegetable soup or tomato juice may be enough to proactively curb the desire to lay into the party spread as soon as you arrive. Instead of munching away on high calorie nuts or chips, try mixing in a few equally crunchy fresh veggies.

Start Your Day Off Right: Studies show that people who eat breakfast each day have more success keeping weight off or losing weight than those who skip it. Recent nutritional findings also show that taking in healthy fats at breakfast can help to moderate the appetite throughout the day. So instead of cereal with skim milk, try something a bit richer such as Greek Yogurt (twice the protein of regular yogurt!) with granola and fresh fruit, or whole grain toast spread with nut butter or avocado, for a power breakfast that will sustain you throughout the day.

Take it Easy on Yourself: The holidays are about celebration after all, so it’s okay to relax your dietary rules a little. Don’t skip homemade eggnog or a special appetizer if that’s what make the holidays memorable for you. If you find you ate too much over the weekend, make a conscious effort to eat a bit better during the week. Also, be sure to get enough sleep each night. Studies show that not getting the required 7 to 9 hours of shuteye each night can wreak havoc with hormones that tell us when to eat or signal we’ve eaten enough. Plan for the proper amount of sleep so you have the energy to face any holiday challenge.

Serves/Makes: 4

• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (2% or full fat)
• 2 cups granola
• 2 pints fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries (hulled and sliced)
• 2 tablespoons honey