Holidays are notorious for their abundance of foods that are high in fat and calories. In fact, you can’t go to any holiday party without having the temptation to stray from your nutritious eating plan and gorging on all of the yummy, but not very good-for-you foods.
The good news is that you don’t have to walk past every buffet and not allow yourself any treats. Simply choose the best food options to give you the nutrition you need without necessarily undoing all of your hard work up to this point.
What foods should you consider?
Anything with veggies. Ideally, you wouldn’t want veggies laden in butter and oil, but they will be higher in nutritional content then dishes that don’t have them at all. You’ll at least get some vitamins and minerals while still entertaining your taste buds in the process.
Lean proteins. Most any holiday buffet table has at least one protein on it which will help your muscles grow big and strong. If it is fried, you can remove the breading or skin. If it is cooked in a thick sauce, try to scrape as much off as you can before eating it.
Fruit based desserts. Admittedly, it can be difficult to bypass all of the dessert trays filled with chocolates and other sweet options but if you choose fruit based desserts then you’re at least getting the nutrients that the fruit offers you. Plus, they’ll fill you up more quickly and won’t put your blood sugar on as much of a roller coaster as options that are purely sugar.
Water. Okay, water isn’t really a food, but it’s easy to overdo it on high calorie beverages and alcoholic drinks during the holidays. Not only are these empty calories that do nothing for your health, they often dehydrate you and leave you feeling worse than ever. At least follow each non-water beverage with a glass of water so that you stay hydrated and energetic.
Not all holiday foods are healthy, but there are choices you can make that are better than others. These are just four of them that will let you start the New Year healthier – and happier.
