YOUR HEALTHY GUIDE to Navigating holiday parties

The next few months bring the challenge of finding balance between making healthy choices while enjoying holiday parties. Many people find themselves eating (and drinking) more than usual and forgoing their typical healthy eating habits. Before they know it, they’ve gained a few extra pounds and now start the New Year feeling less than ideal. Fortunately, eating healthy and enjoying holiday parties is not impossible. Use this healthy guide to help you navigate holiday parties so you can enjoy the party, and the food, feeling your best.

Drink Wisely

Immediately upon entering the party, you’re often handed the signature drink. Stop right there! These are typically loaded with sugar and juice mixes, which add up quickly calorically. You don’t want to drink all your calories when there’s a full buffet just a few steps away. Stick to the basics, have a beer, glass of wine, or straight up liquor with seltzer. Then practice the 1:1 rule of one alcoholic drink per hour, followed by a hydrating glass of water.

Plate It

Grab the smaller appetizer or salad plate (rather than a large dinner plate) for your food and put everything on it. If a server comes around with hors d'oeuvres, place it on your plate so you can visually see what you’re eating and ensure you’re not mindlessly eating. The smaller plate will help you control portions, saving you a lot of calories. Allow yourself to have one or two of those indulgent items that you love, just be mindful of your portions and overall consumption. This isn’t permission to turn your small plate into a leaning tower of food!

Eat Mindfully

Healthy items can be found at parties, so choose to fill your plate with the good stuff (the foods that will make you feel good). Vegetables will help fill you up. Look for healthy dips like hummus and guacamole. Hard cheeses are a better option than soft cheeses. Deviled eggs are a good pick, as well as lean meats (especially shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon). Then practice eating mindfully — take a bite, and if you don’t love it, don’t finish it. Your grandmother’s homemade pie you look forward to all year should be one of the things you choose, while skipping the store bought cookies. Be mindful of the one slice of pie, as it should not equate to eating the entire pie.

CHEW, DON’T GOBBLE

Do you eat so quickly that you don’t even enjoy your food or realize you’re full? Most people would agree that’s what they do. Slow down and thoroughly chew your food, even place your fork down between bites. This will allow you to be present at the party, engage in conversation and enjoy the delicious food you’ve so mindfully selected. Your brain will recognize that you’re full and you’ll be less likely to overeat.

Distance Yourself

Don’t stand by the buffet or the dessert table, but rather find a place in another room, away from the food and drinks. Removing yourself from the temptation will keep the food out of sight and out of mind. If you do need to go back, you’ll burn a few extra calories from the walk and have time to think about if you’re really hungry and what you’re actually hungry for.

Now that you have a strategy with this Healthy Guide to Navigate Holiday Parties, you’ll be able to find balance between making healthy choices while enjoying holiday parties. Practicing these strategies, you’ll be able to attend and enjoy all the parties the season brings, enjoy the foods and beverages you love, and remain in control of your health. Go ahead and RSVP with confidence, knowing you’ve got this!

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