Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas will be here before we know it. Parties and gatherings are filling our calendar and that means many opportunities for eating and drinking. Here is a fun way to remember some healthy tips for the holiday season:
On the first day of Christmas, my dietitian said to me…
Bring One dish to share (a low-calorie nutritious choice for the meal)
Two alcoholic beverages (sticking to two limits our liquid calories)
Three yummy cookies (have a few cookies but keep track and don’t overdo it)
Four fruits for snacking (when hungry, choose a serving of fruit instead of sweets)
Five veggies each day (get all those phytonutrients by meeting this daily minimum)
Six feet from the buffet (prevent mindless eating by moving away to converse)
Seven days of exercise (don’t forget to exercise regularly during the holidays)
Eight glasses of water (daily, and especially before and during parties and gatherings)
Nine ounces of protein (three 3-ounce portions of lean, natural protein each day)
Ten pounds we won’t gain (by sticking to a healthy eating routine through the season)
Eleven new choices (if we tried 1 new healthy food/month, we now eat more variety)
Twelve counted blessings (count our blessings each and every day)
Following these simple steps helps us remain healthy during the holidays. If you bring a dish to share at a gathering, make it one that is centered around veggies or fruits. This will help keep the calories down and the nutrient content up. The obvious option is a veggie tray or fruit salad, both of which are excellent options. However, how about stuffed mushrooms or cauliflower “risotto” which not only taste excellent but incorporate nutrients and variety to a meal.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed Holiday Season!
