Surviving Holiday Calories

The holidays can be a lot of fun. You’ve got lights, gifts, parties, and plenty of holiday cheer to share with friends and family. And to top it all off, there’s an abundance of holiday goodies! Whether it’s Grandma’s special Thanksgiving dressing, neighbor Sally’s holiday cookies or Uncle Barney’s ultra-secret eggnog recipe, you have plenty to choose from. The only question is whether you’ll survive all that holiday goodness.

One way to cope is to introduce some healthy alternatives. Lentils can make a great alternative to candied sweet potatoes. How about heart-healthy avocados instead of heavy cream? The possibilities are endless. Have them on hand for your family or bring them to holiday parties. With luck, you can start some new, healthier holiday traditions. 

Another good way to save some calories, is to watch your portion size. It’s a tough one, we admit. Remember that most of those holiday favorites are rich, so a little goes a long way.

Remember also that it’s not just food you have to watch out for. That great holiday eggnog from Uncle Barney’s private stock has as many calories as the average fast-food milkshake. Plus that holiday punch that’s sitting there so colorfully, is probably loaded with sugar. Sometimes it pays to bring your own water.

The holiday season doesn’t have to derail the healthy lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to maintain all year. With a little extra work and attention, you can still have a festive, fun holiday without overloading on the calories.