Tis the season.. To eat good food, be Jolly & Merry and enjoy the seasons festivities without restriction. But I have had some friends ask if I have any tips for nagivating the holidays with at least some control. So here are my general guidelines for Operation Christmas Dinner!
The first thing I think about is Portion Size. start with a 8" plate instead of 10" when eating and serving, it's best to start with your protein, it slows digestion allowing you to feel full faster, start with 4-5oz of mixed proteins. I know some family's have turkey and or ham and you want the chance to EnJoy It ALL.
Next ad Your veggies, we make a mean Green Bean Casserole, 1-2 cups.
Then ad your Carb, 2-3oz. We like a Roasted Pecan Mashed Sweet Potato for it's health benefits and as a perfect gluten free dish.
Once you've served up, have a look at your plate, these are the portions we have been using all year round and they fill our plates. Usually coming in around 350- 500 cals. (watch sauces and dressings) If your like many and really want "save room" for dessert then I recommend using the lighter portions as your guideline and indulge in a serving of dessert, you'll be surprised at how much you're actually allowed to eat!! And lets face it we still need to account for the calories that come from our holiday drinks!
“The Christmas tree isn’t the only one getting lit this Christmas”
Now when it comes to navigating the holiday drinks here are my healthy tips for drinking responsibly as well as limiting embarrassing moments as we gather around the tree.
You'll always find me drinking water, but when I really want to get into the festive spirit I like a bubbly drink like Prosecco and Spritzers with frozen berries are higher in anti oxidants, lower in sugar & nitrites and generally come in a smaller glass which helps with portion size, if you've committed to only having a little. Clear liquors have less calories and are lower in sugar than dark liquors and mixes like pop, juice or diet pop can contain lots of added sugar & aspartame.
It's always best to avoid the creamy dairy filled drinks like eggnog and baileys.. both of which can contain not only fat , sugar & added calories but they can contain Carrageenan as well..
If you're looking for non alcoholic choices I like a nice hot tea with lemon to help with post dinner digestion and PH balance. Try a lemon ginger tea with a Candy Cane stir stick for a holiday flavor you'll love!
Feel free to share your holiday favorites with us!
Cheers