3 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

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Tis the season to be merry but that doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds because of it. When Christmas Day and its traditional feasting finally arrives keep in mind these tips to help you avoid holiday weight gain.

Start with Veggies and Protein

Whether you’re cooking Christmas dinner or heading around to a friends, all you have to do is make a few simple choices when selecting what is going to be put onto your plate and fuss can be kept to a minimum. First pile on those veggies, boiled or roasted and not swimming in a fatty sauce or covered in cheese. With all the fiber from vegetables you will feel full for longer and hopefully stay away from the sugary chocolate and desserts. You should also add some protein though, and a few slices of roasted turkey will do very nicely, beans or perhaps lentils for vegetarians. Avoid those processed meats or white bread rolls if you can.

Make Sure You Drink Less

Having a tipple at Christmas is fine but don’t overdo it. Alcohol is packed with calories and just a few drinks can undo all that hard work you did by avoiding the fatty unhealthy foods at dinner. Drink out of a tall thin glass if you can, not a short fat one. A study showed that you’re likely to pour less of an alcoholic drink into a tall glass than a short one. Also make sure you drink a glass of water in between glasses of wine or beer, it will help to keep you hydrated and further reduce how much booze you drink.

Don’t Tempt Yourself!

Once you’ve enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner and everyone is full and content don’t make it harder on yourself. Put leftovers, cold cuts, desserts, chocolates, candies and anything else away and out of sight. Whatever you do, don’t load up a plate and take it to the lounge to ‘pick at’ while watching a Christmas movie. You’re likely to overeat and pay much less attention to what you are consuming. Pack it up into tupperware boxes and freeze it if there really is a lot of food that hasn’t been eaten.