Food and drink are an important part of any holiday celebration. Here are a few tips to help you navigate celebratory food and drink, and enjoy a few indulgences.
The ‘Food Table’
Don’t hang around the Holiday party food table. Look for people to talk to who are sitting on the other side of the room. Grab a small plate and go.
Mixing up some Cheer?
Skip the egg nog. Add some spirits to club soda with a bit of pomegranate seeds or juice ;).
Club Soda 12 oz (355 ml) 0 calories
Tonic Water 12 oz (355 ml) 124 calories
Ginger Ale 12 oz (355 ml) 120 calories
Coca Cola 12 oz (355 ml) 140 calories
Egg Nog 1 cup (250ml) 343 calories
Twas the Night After
1. Drink LOTS of water - before, during, and (especially) after drinking.
2. Get out for a walk. Fresh air will help you out.
Don’t bank your calories
Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch the day of the party, and grab a healthy snack (eg. a piece of fruit) to eat on your way. The strategy of ‘saving up calories’ often backfires, as you end up overeating and consuming more calories than expected.
Netflix and Chill
Planning on hibernating over the holidays. Binging on a series? Ok. Set some ground rules. Every show break do some simple stretching, deep breathes or a short 5 minute walk. Snack on some air-popped popcorn and mineral water.
"The Feast" Leftover Plan
The leftover plan starts before you shop or cook anything. 24lb turkey, 3 litres of gravy and a massive pot of mashed potatoes for 6 people isn't the right plan. Let’s rethink it. Aim for 1 day of leftovers. Tip: Make turkey veg soup and freeze. Tip: Have friends and family bring tupperware. Send people home with doggy bags.
Goodies are Taunting
People love to give food gifts. Goodies. Chocolate, cookies, nuts, fruit cake etc. And this is where so many people pack on the pounds. You keep these "gifts" around and they taunt you. Even that dry fruit cake can become a good idea on December 29th at 11:30pm. Tip: Pick your favourite goodie and keep it (mine is dark chocolate almonds). The rest of the chocolate, cookies, nuts get re-gifted right away, donated, or taken to work for your co-workers. Get it out of the house.
Happy Holidays!
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