5 Tips to Enjoy Holiday Treats – Without Regret!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Including wonderful holiday food and treats!

The Christmas season can be one of the hardest times to eat healthy. Sugary and fatty foods are everywhere, and they ARE DELICIOUS! We feel better when we eat healthy and aren’t feeling bloated or crashing from all of the sugar and unhealthy fats, so here are some tips to keep from over-indulging over the next few weeks!

1. Portions – holiday treats are delicious and fun, and you should enjoy them! A healthy way to do this is by looking at the nutrition labels and deciding how much you’re going to consume before you eat.
2. Out of sight, out of mind – keep those holiday sweets you made for the family in a cabinet instead of on the table! This will help you not grab a chocolate covered pretzel every time you you walk by your kitchen counter.
3. Prep fruit, veggies and healthy snacks, and have these easily available in the fridge or on the counter!
4. “Am I actually hungry?” – Ask yourself this question before you snack. Mindless snacking is easy to do; know the difference between boredom-snacking and being hungry.
5. Stay accountable to a friend or family member – choose someone who cares about their own health and can help you stay on track! 

Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Total Diet Approach to Healthy Eating (JAND 2013)
By: Lisa Bartz, C-EP