Tips for Surviving the Holiday Food Train
If you are like us, you are both looking forward to and dreading the holiday season. We all love the traditions and holiday programs, the music and the shopping, the decorating and planning and the cooking! But with the cooking, comes the eating and the parties and the cocktails and the guilt. Amber and I were together over Thanksgiving and found ourselves commiserating over how easy it is to fall in a tin of Christmas cookies with a cheeseboard chaser. So we started thinking through some survival skills to share with you all for avoiding holiday food guilt!
Eryn Tip #1: Find time to burn off those extra calories
I find it is important to stick with whatever exercise plan you have been committed to the rest of the year. If you haven’t committed, start now. Don’t wait until the New Year! You don’t have to go crazy with some hardcore 7 day a week plan, but plan to move everyday. Pick a program that will help to manage your stress and get you moving everyday. It could be a walk or hike with a friend or some relaxing yoga in the evening while watching tv.
That being said, all of those Facebook memes about needing to do 5,000 burpees or run 2 marathons to burn off a plate of Christmas cookies? IGNORE THEM. Just keep doing what you usually do even if you have to cut it short some days. The endorphins will help you sleep and help keep holiday stress at bay. But do not get caught up in a mindset of burning off holiday food guilt at spin class. Cut yourself a break.
Amber Tip #2: Map out the Parties
I like to see things on paper. I put all of those special holiday meals and events on my calendar then plan healthy meals on all of the other days. By sticking with my normal nutrition plan all of those other meals and days, it lets me feel less guilty about splurging on that special holiday meal or cocktails with friends or family. I also like to know what my options are for each particular event. If it is dinner out at a restaurant, scope out the menu ahead of time and get a game plan. Consider ordering the salmon or a big salad so you can enjoy an extra cocktail or dessert. If it is a night at a friends house, eat something healthy before going so you aren’t so starving when you get there.
Eryn Tip #3: Enjoy special holiday food; Plan ahead for the junk food slide
If you find yourself at a holiday party buffet, skip the boring cheese cubes and little hot dogs (unless that’s your thing) and have a piece of peppermint fudge or a decadent holiday dip. Ditto the random wine – skip the merlot you’re not wild about and have a fun festive holiday cocktail instead.. I try to pick stuff I really want and will really enjoy, and skip the buffet line filler food that is nothing extraordinary.
I also find that a few days or weeks of rich holiday food can put me into a tailspin of craving salt, fat, fried food, sugar – you know what I mean. You have an incredible dinner out at a holiday function and find yourself turning your nose up at your normal healthy lunch the next day. I try to keep things on hand to combat that. I add some feta cheese to my salad or have a handful of nuts or olives if I’m craving rich, salty foods. It tends to keep me out of the chips if I do. Same with sweets. I can lose myself in a bag of baking chocolate chips (which my pantry is full of this time of year), so I try to have something super satisfying on hand to combat it like a peppermint patty from my candy dish. I can’t eat handfuls of peppermint patties but one can cut the cravings for ALL THE SUGAR IN THE WORLD which I can find myself thinking I need if I’ve had more sugar than normal.
Amber Tip #4: Be Prepared for the extra food at the office
This is a big one for a lot of people. You are doing good sticking to your plan, then you walk by the office kitchen and see cookies/candy/treats and everyone is having some. If it is truly something you just love, have a piece. Just one and move on. If it is something that isn’t going to be amazing, go back to your desk where you have some healthy snacks squirreled away in your briefcase or purse. I always keep some snacks with me for those weaker moments when you really want something sweet (or salty) but not the guilt 30 mins later. I find if I have the choice between something I am comfortable with and something I know I shouldn’t have, the decision is so much easier to stick with what I am comfortable with.
Eryn Tip #5: Keep meals simple
When we got back from Amber’s house after Thanksgiving my pantry was pretty bare. I sat down to make my grocery list and started picking from my normal meal rotation. Then I looked at the calendar and realized what a busy few weeks we had coming up. Even though the first week or two after Thanksgiving weren’t terribly packed, I still knew I had to fit in Christmas shopping, wrapping, some baking, Christmas cards. You know. So I pared our dinner options back. Spaghetti is easy. Make your own pizzas is easy. Throwing chicken and baked potatoes on the Traeger grill is easy. I added pre-cut fruit and veggies to the list. I plan to eat down some of the things I have squirreled away in the freezer like chili and taco meat. Things that will save us from bailing at the last minute and heading out to eat on a Tuesday night. That way if I spend a whole day baking cookies I am not overwhelmed by dinner and tempted to order in.
Eryn and Amber MOST IMPORTANT TIP OF ALL!
Give yourself some grace, enjoy the season. Decide in advance what your game plan is and stick to it. You will find how much easier it is with a little bit of mental prep! But don’t beat yourself over a piece of pie (or a whole pie for that matter) the holiday season is about food and family and friendship. Enjoy your Aunt’s famous cookies. Don’t pass up a festive cocktail. Enjoy the things you really want and skip the 5,000 burpees the next day. There will be plenty of time for focus on cleaning up your diet in January!