Every year October signals the beginning of the season of tempting treats and an abundance of sweets with the knock from the first trick-or-treater through ringing in the New Year. Well-intentioned nutrition plans can be easily derailed when you’re surrounded by sacks of Halloween candy, glorious holiday treats, and plans for holiday feasts. Thankfully, we have plenty of tips to keep your diet and health on track!
Halloween Tips:
- Buy the kind of Halloween candy you don’t like. You won’t be tempted to sneak treats if you have leftovers.
- Buy non-candy Halloween treats such as stickers, small boxes of crayons, party favor toys, mini bottles of bubbles, pencils, glow sticks, honey sticks, or natural fruit leather. (Bonus: these are allergy-friendly options!)
- Understand what triggers your sweet cravings and find solutions before you’re tempted. Stick with protein and healthy fats to stabilize your blood sugar.
Thanksgiving Tips:
- Don’t approach the feast with a sense of resentment, restriction, or denial. Give yourself license to be human. Enjoy the food and company while being mindful of portion sizes, especially of starchy foods like mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls and pie. Eat more of the turkey and green vegetables.
- Stay hydrated—drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea.
- Make your sweet potato dish less sweet by reducing the sugar, molasses or brown sugar or try one of these savory sweet potato dishes from Clean Eating Magazine:
- Make your own breadcrumbs from a whole-grain, gluten-free, or low-carb bread.
- Bake your pumpkin pie without the crust and turn it into a custard pie.
- Experiment with new vegetable dishes.
- Fill up on a broth-based soup before you serve the main meal.
- Take a walk after your meal, weather permitting.
- Avoid eating in front of the TV—you’re more prone to unconsciously eat more when you’re distracted.
- Freeze leftovers or send them with friends or family to avoid overeating in the days after the feast.
Christmas/Chanukah Tips:
- Write yourself a pledge and post it where you’ll see it every day: I promise not to eat more than a small piece of any Seasonal/Holiday goodie until the Eve. I will save the treats for the celebration and enjoy it all the more.
- Follow the same tips outlined for Thanksgiving.
- When at parties, reduce your alcohol intake to 1-2 small glasses of dry bubbly or wine (we recommend Dry Farm Wines), or an ounce or two of distilled spirits. Remember to use non-caloric mixers.
- Avoid eggnog until the last few days of the season.
- Select the healthiest options at the buffet—cold cuts and fresh vegetables.
- Limit yourself to a single, small serving of dessert and enjoy a cup of coffee or mineral water while you mingle.
- Manage stress with meditation, schedule down time during the week, take a few minutes for deep belly breathing, and practice self-care.
Post-Holiday Tips:
- Freeze or send leftovers with friends or family as soon as possible.
- Consider intermittent fasting and drop breakfast from your daily routine (consume plenty of protein and healthy fats!) or start the day with a high-protein, low-carbohydrate meal to help stabilize blood sugar.
- Get active for at least 20 minutes a day. Take a walk, join a yoga class, or find a fitness video and move your body.
- Recommit to healthy eating to support your best health. If you need help with this, please contact us for a nutrition session or join our 4-week nutrition program so 2020 can be your best year yet!