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11 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies

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avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

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Edited on 13/12/2016 at 17:59

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avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

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Last activity on 07/10/2020 at 11:39

Joined in 2016


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Holidays are approaching, which means family/friends gatherings, staying at home and eating - a lot and not necessarily healthy.

Every Christmas season we buy, cook and eat  enormous quantities of cookies, pies, meat, etc. and it seems like we can't help it. But actually, we can.

Here are 11 eating strategies that we advise you to adopt for the upcoming holidays, in order to maintain your healthy diet and avoid flare-ups and inflammations for those who have problems with their digestive system.

1. Bring your own food.

Contribute a healthy dish to a gathering to ensure there’s something you can indulge in.

2. Eat the best-for-you offerings first.

For example, hot soup as a first course―especially when it's broth-based, not cream-based―can help you avoid eating too much during the main course.

3. Stand more than an arm's length away from munchies while you chat.

So you're not tempted to raise your hand to your mouth every few seconds.

4. Keep track of what you eat.

Maintain a food diary to help you stay committed to your goals during this risky eating period.

5. Weigh yourself daily and use that number to guide your actions.

Research has shown that women who step on the scale every day and then act accordingly, either increasing their exercise or being stricter about their eating, are 82 percent less likely to regain lost weight than those who don’t weigh in as often.

6. Eat before going to a party.

Before going out, have a healthy snack to curb your appetite.

7. Eat breakfast.

This has been shown to prevent overeating later in the day.

8. Choose foods wisely.

Fill your plate with low-calorie items, such as leafy green salads, vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, and take smaller portions of the richer ones. That way, you can eat a larger amount of food for fewer calories and not feel deprived.

9. Pop a sugar-free mint in your mouth.

When you’ve had enough (and don’t want to eat more), the feeling of a fresh palate can curb additional noshing.

10. Manage portion size.

Use smaller plates and serving utensils. Try a salad or dessert plate for the main course and a teaspoon to serve yourself.  In one study conducted at the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, even nutrition experts served themselves 31 percent more ice cream when using oversize bowls compared with smaller bowls. The size of the serving utensil mattered, too: Subjects served themselves 57 percent more when they used a three-ounce scoop versus a smaller scoop.

11. Keep Up the Exercise.

If you don’t have time for your daily four-mile walk, do a few 10- or 15-minute spurts of exercise throughout the day. They can be just as effective at maintaining overall fitness as one continuous workout. All the running around you’re doing (cleaning for houseguests, dashing through a million stores to find the perfect presents) can also help keep your weight in check.

Finally, keeping your diet healthy during the holiday season isn't easy and need to be rewarded. So don't hesitate to choose your indulgencies, but do it carefully. Allow yourself a biscuit a day or try cooking healthy low sugar desserts. You can find plenty of recipes on the internet, and you can also try this wonderful recipe of low sugar, no butter Chocolate truffles that we have recently shared on Carenity.

Don't hesitate to share your own favourite Christmas recipes!

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avatar exit

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16/01/2017 at 22:21

Dear Margarita

Thank you for the very informative message on healthy Eating. I have recently been diagnosed with very high Cholesterol level of 12.7 despite me eating very healthy. I dont have red meat more than once a week. I have plenty of fresh fruits and lots of green vegetables. I dont have sugary or food containing high saturated fats and I do exercise regularly. So I dont understand why I have got such a high level of Cholestrol. With having high BP as well, my GP was worried that I am at a high risk of having an heart attack and started me on Statins. I am not in favour of Statins, and I think the side effects of Statins do more harm than good. my Triglycerides and HDL are good, just the LDL is high. I am going to discuss with my GP and come off the Stastins. I would like to hear from any member thier views on Statins and their expiriences of this drug, good or bad.

Once again thank you

Best wishes

 

Christina


11 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/good-to-know/9-healthy-holidayeating-strategies-1488 2017-01-16 22:21:33

avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

Community manager
18/01/2017 at 17:32

Good advisor

avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

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Last activity on 07/10/2020 at 11:39

Joined in 2016


1,195 comments posted | 118 in the Good to know group

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Hi @nineteen_gale,

Thanks for your comment. What other eating tips do you have that weren't mentioned in the article?

I hope you will get other patients' feedback on this drug!

Kind regards,

Margarita

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11 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/good-to-know/9-healthy-holidayeating-strategies-1488 2017-01-18 17:32:02
avatar exit

Unregistered member

18/01/2017 at 22:55

Thank you Margarita

There is so much on coconut these days on media and so much controversy too. I drink a glass of coconut water every night and I have a few pieces of fresh coconut with 2 pieces of dark chocolate with my Turmeric milk every evening. Now I am not sure if I am doing it right or not. Somesay that coconut is very high in saturated fats, yet good to eat it as it keeps you fuller fro longer and stops you from picking extra snacks. I eat at set meal times and never snack in betweeen. i have a a big bowl of mixed freshly chopped seasonal fruits with prunes and seeds with a table spoon of Greek Natural yoghurt for breakfast. Some times I have porridge with seeds nuts prunes and a handful of Blueberries. I have a cup of tea without sugar mis morning, then for lunch half an Avocado pair with 3 Ryvita bisuits or crisp bread or Humous with crisp bread, and ocassionally I have a cheese and onion batch. A cup of tea or Apple cider vinigar in the afternoon. Then in the evening I have my cooked meal. have fish and chicken more than meat. i use Sweet potatoes and have a lot of Broccoli. No pudding. Then like I said above, Turmeric milk, cocnut and dark chocolate. I think the Cholesterol is Generic. My Dad and maternal grandmother both died of heart disease. Now I have high blood pressure and high level of Cholesterol. I cant blame my diet, as you can see, I eat healthy. I also have Flora Pro Active on my crisp bread.

I hope this answers your question, and I hope that I have some comments from some of the members on the topic of Cholesterol and Statins

 

Best wishes

 

Christina


11 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/good-to-know/9-healthy-holidayeating-strategies-1488 2017-01-18 22:55:20

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