Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

The Holidays are here and in full effect! You’ve already found yourself surrounded by chocolates, eggnog, cookies and party invites! Here are a few strategies on how to stay on track during this tempting time of year.

Pre-plan-Decide ahead of time how you will handle the different events of the season. For non-festive days, plan healthy meals and snacks, and make sure to get some exercise in every day, even if its just 30 minutes.  


TIP: No time for exercise this time of year? Split your workout into two. 15 minutes first thing in the morning and 15 minutes before you go to bed.

Snack  - Eat a snack before you head out to a dinner party. Have a cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or some lavash and raw vegetables with hummus, so hunger won’t rule your choices. TIP: Before you eat, have an 8oz glass of water. Often we mistaken thirst for hunger.

Slow down – There is no need to do without your favourite foods, just take small portions , chew your food and eat slowly. TIP: Put your cutlery down between bites and talk between bites, so your meal will last longer and you will actually enjoy it rather than scarfing it down.

Moderate - Avoid guilty pleasures you can have anytime, such as chocolates, cookies and chips, and go with small portions of your seasonal favourites such as eggnog, rum-drenched fruitcake and all the yummy fancy cheeses. TIP: Before eating, see what is being served. If there are raw vegetables, seafood (sans the butter), mini quiche, dips (sans the cream), start with those, to take the edge off your appetite.

Have Dessert - Have some fruit half hour before having any rich dessert to avoid over doing it.   TIP: Try to split dessert with a friend and have a cup of herbal tea with it.

Enjoy a Drink...or two – If you are going to have that eggnog be aware that an eight-ounce serving of non-alcoholic eggnog has about 362 calories. A five-ounce glass of white wine is 100 calories, a 12-ounce beer is 150 calories and a three-ounce martini has about 195 calories. Weigh out your options. Do you want to drink your calories or eat them? TIP: Hold your drink in your right hand if you are right-handed (or left hand if you’re a lefty) as it will make it more difficult to reach for food on impulse. 




The information presented here is not intended to replace professional medical care when needed. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for disease diagnosis, therapy choice, medicine selection and dosage.