Is it doable to eat healthy during the Holidays? With so many delights placed on tables, the mere thought of eating healthy Christmas times is an oxymoron! Here’s an interesting fact that will shock you. Today, during a group workout session, the instructor asked us how many calories a person consumes on Christmas Day. Each lady in the class had a different answer, all of which were wrong. You won’t believe what the correct answer is. I was stunned when she revealed that, on average, people consume about 5,373 calories on Christmas day alone. Yikes. I didn’t believe her until consulting with Google. Yup, it’s real, and that’s a lot of calories for one day! It’s three times the average daily intake for women. And there’s no way we can even come close to burning half of these calories with a regular workout. We’d have to run a marathon or two to stay in shape during the Holiday season.
Counting calories isn’t fun
I wish I were more responsible about counting calories. The fact is, most of us can’t count the number of calories in Christmas meals and drinks unless we use an app to track every bite we take. But, of course, who’s going to do so around family and friends? It just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do at social gatherings around the Holiday season. Besides, it makes everyone feel awkward and guilty.
Five thousand calories a day is inconceivable, yet do you feel slightly curious to know how consuming them is possible? Here are some of the prime calorie offenders to keep in mind as we bid goodbye to another pandemic year:
- a glass of Eggnog has about 500 calories (cripes)
- a glass of wine will add 200 calories to your daily intake,
- that traditional Christmas breakfast packs an average of 1,000 calories,
- and a single portion of cheese and cracker gift us about 200 calories.
So what should we do to keep it under control?
I find it easier to control calorie intake if I host dinner, and you probably feel the same way too. This is because when we handle meal preparation, we can opt for healthy ingredients and plates. Plus, if you are a host, you are constantly on your feet and busy prepping rather than eating. If you are actively serving guests, you don’t have much time to indulge in snacks and drinks.
Now when it comes to being a guest, I can easily surrender to temptations. But there are a few tricks I’ve been relying on for years to eat healthy during the Holidays:
Avoid snacking on carbs
Yes, I avoid carbs during the Holidays and even on vacation. I explicitly eliminate bread, chips, crackers, pastry, and desserts. Holiday meals are already rich in carbs (potatoes, rice, and pancakes). Therefore, it’s best to avoid all carb snacks and become acquainted with a veggie or fruit platter. Here’s a trick to help control snacking on carbs and eat healthy during the Holidays: bring a vegetable platter and ask the host if you can place it on the snacking table
Watch your alcohol
Alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, and Eggnog are calorie offenders! You probably know that I stopped drinking alcohol for many good reasons, which I shared here. I’m not going to preach to anyone, but if you want to manage calories during the Holidays, scale down drinking and skip the Eggnog. I realize that it isn’t feasible to eliminate alcoholic beverages at this time of the year. However, consider alternative options such as enjoying a glass of sparkling water, sipping slowly, or even diluting your glass of wine!
Skip breakfast by sleeping in
Ok, so it might not be the polite thing to do if you’re staying over at someone’s house. The hosting
Ok, so it might not be the polite thing to do if you’re staying over at someone’s house. The hosting family might not serve breakfast until everyone is awake, but you can excuse yourself by saying that you want to catch up on your sleep while on Holiday.
Or you can ask to skip breakfast and spend the morning drinking lots of water, coffee, and fruits. That’s just a fantastic way to flush all toxins and flatten the belly.
Fruits for dessert
I have a sweet tooth and love chocolate and cakes. But you know there are many sweet temptations during the Holiday season, and it is impossible to resist the desire to devour tasty treats. So even if you have the good intention of not wanting to indulge in sugary stuff, your aunt dropped off her signature cheesecake that you know is so good, and you must have! So then, instead of eating an entire piece, cut a bite or two, and fill your plate with fruits.
Set rules and be mindful
We can easily slip out of our routine during the Holiday season and on Christmas day in particular. Setting rules around what and when to eat can help curb calorie intake and eat healthy during the Holidays. For example, you could commit to drinking one glass of wine on Christmas day. Or you can print and follow the tips in this blog.
Best workout equipment to travel with
Being mindful of what we eat during the Holiday season is essential to guide how many calories we take. Equally important is to schedule 30 minutes of exercise each day to burn the extra calories. There are countless free workout apps and YouTube videos you can play virtually whenever you have a few minutes of relaxation. Let’s remember that our metabolism slows down after 40, and losing these extra pounds can take a more extended period. Loving and nurturing your body is more important than cheering with a glass of wine or savoring your aunt’s signature cheesecake.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays to you!
