Never Too Late To PLAN For The Holidays
Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just enjoy extra time off work, the holiday season can easily disrupt our usual diet and exercise routine.
Here is an easy to implement P.L.A.N. from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic dietitian, to help us stay on track with our health goals through the holiday season—or at least not veer too far off course.
- P: Plate It. Control portions and calories by using smaller lunch, dinner, and party plates, and prepare plenty of fruits and veggies to put on them. Also, be sure to eat enough protein-rich foods throughout the day to keep hunger in check.
L: Lighten Up. Cook and bake with healthy fats, and use sugar substitutes such as stevia. Include low-calorie veggie and side dishes in your meal plans, and occasionally serve a fruit-based dessert. Lower carb intake by mixing champagne or wine with soda water, and consider making eggnog or hot cocoa with reduced fat cream or milk.
A: Appreciate Friends, Family, Food, Memories. Focus your energies less on food, and more on people and conversations. Take walks with family or friends, play games, or share favorite stories, memories, and traditions.
I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.” ~ Fred Rogers
N: Nutrition: Balance and Moderation. Enjoy the special fare of the season, but eat slowly, savor each bite, and enjoy relaxed conversation during mealtimes to pace yourself even more. Always balance traditional treats with nutritious and delicious edibles. At parties, do your socializing away from the serving table.
Come January, it will be far easier to reestablish our usual routines if we haven’t strayed too far from them. A little more restraint now means having to exercise less restraint later. That’s a worthy tradeoff if you believe health is the best measure of wealth.
Source: Mayo Clinic
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