An En-Lightening Chanukah by Cindy Weinberger, MS RD CDN

Health & F tness

An En-Lightened Chanukah

By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN

Chanukah is a holiday that is loved by all. Whether it be the heat from the candles, the piping hot latkes, or the euphoria it brings us, Chanukah warms our hearts during the cold winter season. However, along with the joy of Chanukah comes a staple of all Jewish holidays: food, food, and more food. All the back-to-back Chanukah parties are bad news for the diet. Chanukah is the time to loosen our belts and make room for the latkes, doughnuts, and chocolate coins. Let’s attempt to embrace this Chanukah prepared with the right mindset and strategies in order to avoid all the unnecessary weight gain that usually occurs over the holiday.

Firstly, as embarrassing as it may be, pregame. Never go to a Chanukah party hungry. Hunger increases the likelihood that you will stuff your face and overeat all the enticing food in front of you. When you are hungry, chances are that your diet will go out the window along with your self-control. Showing up satiated to a party will help motivate you to maintain self-control and avoid overeating. In addition, try to socialize or focus on activities at the party instead of focusing on all the food.

If necessary, bring your own food to the party and only eat the food that you brought along. Some individuals find it hard to say no to food even when they are not hungry. Bringing your own pre-planned healthy meal will decrease the chances of pigging out on all the party’s goodies.

If you’re unable to pregame and/ or bring your own food to the party, make sure you prep yourself to maintain utmost self-control when choosing food. Target the salads, fresh fruit, and low-fat foods. Try to steer clear of the fried foods such as latkes sage to the brain that you are full, otherwise you can overeat until you are about to burst. So, start off with a small portion, wait, and then if you are still hungry, refill wisely. Don’t fall into the trap of “finish your plate syndrome.” You don’t have to finish everything on your plate. Once you are full, stop eating.

If hosting a party, you are at an advantage because you are creating the menu. Most Chanukah parties “require” latkes. Potato latkes are not

Try to socialize or focus on activities at the party instead of focusing on all the food.

and doughnuts. In addition, try to fill up on water throughout the party, so you will have less of a craving for all the other goodies.

When taking food, use a small plate instead of a big plate to portion out your food. Most people enter a party with big eyes and want to try everything. Start off with a small portion and then wait 15-20 minutes before refilling. Your stomach needs about 15-20 minutes to get the mesnutrient dense, since potatoes have little nutritional value to offer. Try substituting potatoes for zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes. These vegetables have the same consistency as potatoes when grated and are just as delicious. They are lower in calories than potatoes and have more nutritional value.

In addition, fry your latkes using minimal amounts of oil and try to absorb the excess oil using paper towel after frying. Use avocado oil as a healthier option for frying as opposed to canola or vegetable oil. Olive oil is not recommended for frying due to its low smoking point. You can bake your latkes for a healthier touch. Or, better yet, thanks to today’s fancy technology, you can air-fry your latkes, cutting out the calories from the oil and still enjoy the fried texture.

The smaller you make your latkes, the better, so that you can better control your portion sizes.

The key to dieting is self-control. It is vital to enter a party with the right mindset and know that you do not have to consume everything in front of you! Don’t forget the true meaning of the holiday; Hashem performs miracles that seem impossible. Hopefully, while keeping these tips in mind, Hashem will help you in performing the “miracle” of maintaining self-control at a Chanukah party!

Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN, is a Master’s level Registered Dietitian and

Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. She graduated CUNY Brooklyn College receiving a Bachelor’s in Science and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences. She is currently a private nutritionist. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@gmail.com or at 917-623-6237.