Holiday Eating Frenzies

We all will probably face tempting holiday goodies whether we celebrate the holidays or not. Here are some simple suggestions to those of you who will be faced with party food, work treats, buffets, holiday goodies and pressure from friends or family to eat less than healthy.

This time of year is especially tumultuous if you’ve decided to eat healthier. The essence of the holidays seems to be to indulge, indulge and indulge some more. Everyone’s doing it. It’s easy to procrastinate those healthy diet intentions and let our bellies rule ’til January.

I agonize over this time of year for several reasons, a big one being food-related. When you’re avoiding sweets, this time of year can pose quite a threat. It’s the worst feeling in the world to gain ten pounds due to holiday carelessness. It can take months to work off and it’s never worth it. I never can remember most of the food I’ve indulged in anyway.

Here are some tricks for navigating the inevitable edibles. Whether it’s sugary goodies or the delicious fattening stuff, I hope these pointers crawl into your memory and stay there for when you need them most.

1. Fill up on healthy foods before going out. Seriously, fill up.
2. Have coffee, tea, water or some other beverage in hand at all times. It will give you something to fiddle with if you get nervous at big events and it will help keep your belly happy.
3. Keep a bag of healthy snacks with you at all times.
4. Make space for keeping healthy snacks at work. This can especially curb the temptation to indulge in whatever is in the break room. Fill a jar with nuts or dried fruit instead of candy, for example.
5. Tell yourself that you can have junk, but that you’ll avoid it.
6. Hang out at a distance from the food table.
7. Chew gum or suck on mints.
8. Bring healthy foods to events. Scandalous amounts of treats are everywhere—that healthy food may be much appreciated.
9. Give a favorite container of tea and honey to your host. It makes a wonderfully comforting beverage and soothes the aching sweet tooth.
10. Exercise. People are less likely to indulge after they’ve worked out.
11. Keep a food journal of what you’ve eaten and what you plan to eat.
12. Check out Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink and The End of Overeating by David Kessler.

Here’s hoping for health and happiness during the holidaze!