Petite village

Gabriella Vetere, RD

 

This month it seems as if everyone has at least one holiday party to attend and with parties comes high calorie appetizers, entrees, desserts, and libations. Now most people might say: “Well hey it’s the holidays!  Why do I have to watch what I am eating?”

Unless you want to gain 5-7 pounds this holiday season, you better care why!

 

The average person at a holiday party can consume an extra 350-500 calories just on booze itself. With all these extra calories mixed with stress, decreased exercising from wanting to stay in, and treats everywhere you look 3,500 extra calories (the amount to gain one pound) comes fast!

 

LISTEN! This does not have to happen to you this season. If you go in to the parties with a few handy tips, you can go have fun and not wake up and wish you hadn’t ate those ten pieces of peppermint fudge at the company potluck party. My idea of what a food hangover is.

 

1.Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Do not skip meals before holiday parties thinking you will “save your calories” for later. This will only leave you famished and cause you to gorge on anything accessible at the party. Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch, and/or snack before the event with a mixture of protein, and complex carbohydrates to keep you full and blood sugar steady throughout the day.

 

2.Use the rule of one.

Cocktail party: Have one alcoholic drink (or sweetened beverage), one of your choice of 3-4 appetizers (bite sized), and one dessert.

 

Holiday Dinner: Have one alcoholic drink, one appetizer, one plate of food (half vegetables/salad, ¼ protein, ¼ carbohydrate), and one dessert.

 

3.Chat it up!

My favorite way not to overeat at a party or dinner is two parts.

1.     Find someone you actually like and love to talk to and stand by him or her or sit near him or her at dinner.

2.     Take a bite of food, put down fork, and strike up the conversation.

 

 

You will begin to notice that you will be just starting your salad while your counterparts listening will have scarfed down the whole meal. I also drink a lot of water when I talk a lot instead of eating which also helps to keep myself from overeating. 

Remember these tips everyone and you won’t have those food hangovers and extra pounds after the holidays are over!

 

Happy Holidays!