1. Know Your Enemy
And that enemy would be you driven by stress! Sloppy eating habits are often the result of too little time and too many hassles. "Many people use food as a means to manage stress," says Franca Alphin, R.D., nutrition advisor at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. One way she suggests to navigate these stressful times is to make a list of everything that stresses you during the holidays. Keep the items you enjoy, like shopping or decorating your house, and find ways to eliminate, delegate or pare down the ones you don't, like cooking and sending out cards.
2. Make a Date with Your Gym Shoes
A few extra calories won't break the bank if you're keeping your activity level up. But who has time to workout right now? You do, as long as you make it a priority. Make an appointment to exercise, even if it's just a brisk walk around the neighborhood, says Alphin. This is a date you should not miss! Write it down on your calendar and plan all other activities around it. Exercise is a good way to manage stress and therefore manage your stress-related eating habits.
3. Snack Healthfully
Okay, this doesn't mean daily doses of rum balls and pumpkin pie. What it does mean is eating small, healthy snacks throughout the day to keep you from feeling hungry--which may prevent bingeing, says Quagliani. Snacks to try:• sliced fruit (think apples, oranges, pears)
• small bowl of whole grain cereal (not the sugar-coated brands)
• half a bagel with a smear of peanut butter
Try spacing your snacks between your major daily meals and remember to drink your water; it will help you to have that full feeling.
4. Don't Defeat Yourself
In other words, choose your battles carefully. This is not the time to test your willpower. Your favorite holiday cookies or a dish of your mom's special holiday pudding are like kyptonite to Superman, so why fight it? Quagliani says it's better to allow yourself to have your holiday favorites, but in moderation. Now is the time for indulgence, not overindulgence. But when it comes to party foods like chips and cheese, rein yourself in or steer clear of them all together--you can have those anytime, so why waste the calories? Ultimately, it's really about prioritizing your food choices.
5. Temper Your Expectations
This is not the time to try losing those last five pounds, either. According to Alphin, trying to stick to a restrictive food regimen is a recipe for disappointment during the holidays. Why not vow to maintain your current weight? This would be a definite accomplish-ment during this holiday food-for-all.
6. Don't Go It Alone
Debra Wein, R.D., president and co-founder of Sensible Nutrition Connection, Inc. (www.sensiblenutrition.com), in Boston, suggests that you let close family members and friends know about your healthful holiday eating goals, and that you'd love their help. "Support is very important," she says. "So let them know your goals ahead of time."
7. Don't Give in to Pressure
Is Aunt Edna trying to guilt you into taking a helping of her famed sweet potato pie? Don't give in. Tell her you couldn't possibly eat another bite of anything, but that you'd love to take some home for later. This way you get to keep your steely resolve, and placate your relative at the same time. What you do with the pie once you get home is entirely up to you. My suggestion: freeze it and save it for a special occasion.
8. Watch the Finger Foods
Mindless munching can add up to disaster even before the main course is served. A handful of salted nuts can pack on hundreds of calories. The same goes for creamy dips, cheese cubes and many prepared hors d'oeuvres. If you want to nibble, go for low-cal options like fruit, vegetables or boiled shrimp. Not only are these choices more healthy, they're also more filling.
