Healthy Holiday Eating: Tips and Tricks to Stay on Track

The holidays, life events, travel, and celebrations often revolve around food, but they don't have to be solely about what's on the plate. Learning to navigate these moments without making food the star of the show is a game-changer!

Below are some healthy holiday eating tips to stay on track:

Shift Your Mindset: Instead of focusing solely on the menu, focus on the moments. Embrace the joy of being present with loved ones, cherishing conversations, creating memories, and celebrating connections.

Healthy Holidays: You can stay aligned with your health goals without missing out on the festivities.

Prioritize Balance: Enjoy those special dishes mindfully and savor the flavors without guilt. Remember, it's about nourishing your body and soul!

Create New Traditions: Explore new ways to bond that don't solely revolve around food. Maybe it's a post-dinner walk, a gratitude circle, or trying a fun activity together. Let's make memories beyond the dining table!

Embrace the Moment: The joy of the holidays and life events lies in the connections and shared experiences. It's about laughter, stories, and the warmth of togetherness. Let's savor these beautiful moments without making food the sole focus.

Talk to Coach David: He has been in your shoes, any will have insights into what might work best for you. This kind of support is invaluable, and you should take advantage of it.

Talk to your Loved Ones Beforehand: When grandma encourages you to have a big helping of pie, she means well and is using food to express her love. Instead of waiting until that moment to talk to her about your health journey, reach out to her (and other members of your family) to explain what you are aiming to accomplish and why it is important to you. If you do this ahead of time, you can prevent difficult conversations in the moment.

Rely on the Buddy System: If you know you will be tempted to overeat or to break from your health plan, ask someone you respect to hold you accountable. When you have someone there to remind you of your goals, making the healthy choice can become easier.

Rehearse and Visualize: You can likely predict the kinds of challenges you will face over the holidays, so imagine the situations ahead of time and act out in your mind how you will respond. Don’t feel silly (no one will ever know you did this exercise). This little bit of practice can help you to overcome the momentum of the moment.

Eat Ahead of Time and Drink Lots of Water: If you eat ahead of time and enter an event already feeling full, you will find it easier to say no to unhealthy foods. As the event progresses, drink lots of water, and if you have to eat more of something, eat healthy vegetables (not casseroles or veggie trays covered in dressings and cheeses).

I'm all about creating a plan of attack when it comes to holidays, parties, events etc. How about you? What's your plan?