Healthy Eating Strategies for Both Professionals and Clients This Holiday Season
Thanksgiving
is just days away and before we know it the holiday season will be in
full swing. People are already gearing up to shop till they drop. What’s
also customary during this whole season is the amount of food and
beverages we’ll be consuming alongside family and friends.
We
go through this every year; we can expect lots of celebrating and that
means eating and drinking more than we’d normally allow. It happens; we
may cut loose, but we often feel guilty about it after. The holiday
season and just about any event we’re attending will have all manner of
consumables and it’s great that we enjoy ourselves. However, this
enjoyment shouldn’t come with a sense of guilt or the fear of ruining
one’s diet.
One
of the best strategies, for both professionals and clients, is to plan
in advance. It’s important that we have some kind of plan for eating
healthy through this season. We want to enjoy ourselves, but we also
want to feel good about it. For that reason, we have to plan ahead. At
the next event, whether work or family related, survey the table and
determine what needs a limit before digging in.
It
may be a good idea to stock up on salads and most proteins, and reduce
starch heavy foods. This should also hold true for sweet and salty
options also, and will go double for alcoholic beverages. Be careful how
much you consume in one sitting and monitor your glass and plate to
ensure you’re staying in bounds. When we’re out and having a grand time
it’s easy to forget everything so we’ll need to stay disciplined.
Another
tactic is to drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy eating
regimen in general during all this holiday madness. That means we’ll
have to stay the course. If it means limiting certain foods and
beverages to the particular event then so be it. It may also mean
adjusting some meals accordingly.
Let’s
dive a little further into meal adjustments. It doesn’t mean that we
should skip meals, starve, or save ourselves for the big meal time. It’s
best we maintain our current diet plan or make small, but healthy
changes where necessary. That may be as simple as adding more greens to
one meal or swapping out a few sugary snacks for something healthier
knowing we’ll be taking in the sugar later on.
Just
so we’re clear; this is by no means a call to skip foods, reduce meal
portions, or make drastic changes. The emphasis is on proper planning
and staying healthy all through the season. Yes, we’re going to be
tempted to grab the cake, ice cream, or pie and that’s ok, but we must
exercise moderation and plan for said cravings. It is, after all, the
holiday season and it’s important we enjoy ourselves and feel good about
it later.
Last,
but not least, we have to remember to exercise and stay active through
this season. For some of us it’s already snowing while others wish they
had snow or are enjoying what warmth they have left. Stay active whether
in doors or outside, and don’t feel the need to train twice as hard
after splurging a little.
This
happens to be one of the big problems with holiday eating, we assume we
have to burn the calories we’ve put on but if we’d just go back to our
regular food schedule and exercise program we’d be fine in no time.
Remember, we must be responsible but shouldn’t beat ourselves up for our
cravings.
This
year has been a real challenge and though we’re gearing up for the
holiday season let’s remember those who can’t. Let’s keep all those who
were devastated by weather and violence in our thoughts and actions.
Give when possible and exercise compassion.
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Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving and an enjoyable holiday season! |