How to Keep From Overeating During the Holidays
Whether you’re cramming in a meal before hours of Christmas shopping or sitting down to a feast with friends, the holiday season is one of the hardest times to stay on top of healthy eating. Endless parties offer opportunities to stuff yourself silly while the hustle and bustle make way for fast food stops and split-second decisions. As you navigate through this crazy season, take these steps to avoid overeating during the holidays.
Stay Hydrated
Take a break from the peppermint mocha to hydrate yourself as you rush from store to store. Staying hydrated helps to maintain the balance of fluids in your body and keeps everything working well. It also helps you stay full longer and aids in calorie control.
Don’t Show Up Hungry
We're not suggesting you eat just for the fun of it — but fasting during the morning to "make room" for the feast that's coming later is counterproductive. Starving yourself until family dinner only makes it difficult to resist all those appetizers and hors-d'oeuvres and leads to gorging yourself once the turkey is carved.
Pack Snacks
It's easy to give in to the temptation of fast food when you're running low on energy. To combat the desire to indulge yourself with unhealthy treats, keep small snacks in your purse or glovebox to satiate your hunger until you get home.
Get More Sleep
Whether it’s the onslaught of sales keeping you up at night or just your packed schedule, a lack of sleep is detrimental to your self-control when it comes to food. One study showed that individuals who slept less than 5 hours were more likely to crave high-calorie foods in the morning. Get at least 7 hours of sleep for better eating habits the following day.
Dress Consciously
Skip the stretchy pants this holiday. While it may seem more comfortable to wear flexible clothing, it can also encourage overeating. Wear more structured pants or fitted clothing as a reminder to keep from stuffing yourself.
Use a Smaller Plate
Research shows time and time again that the bigger your plate, the more you eat. Our desire to fill the plate until its overflowing can easily be curbed by taking advantage of this psychological tendency. Grab a smaller plate and you'll still feel like you're eating as much as you want.
Live a Little
Eating healthy is an admirable lifestyle, but don’t be afraid to let yourself have a treat. One slice of pie or a little extra gravy is not going to throw all your hard work out the window.
- Lifestyle Staff
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