Healthy Holiday Party Eating

The holidays have many things going for them, not the least of which is the food. Whether it’s Grandma’s special holiday fudge, coworker Sally’s double chocolate Christmas cake or neighbor Ed’s surf and turf extravaganza, there are some good eats to be had. The only real downside is the damage that holiday goodness may do to the waistline you've worked so hard to maintain all year.. Here are some ways to keep on track during the holiday rush:

It may seem like a great time saver to just eat at the party since you’re going anyway. However, try to eat at least a little something before you arrive. That way you can think with a clear head rather than an empty stomach

Another great way to avoid holiday calories is to bring along a healthy dish. It gives you some degree of control over what you’ll be eating. You may even be able to set a good example for future parties, so don’t be stingy with the recipe.

Take your time when you’re eating. According to research it takes about 20 minutes after we take a bite before our stomach lets us know it’s full. Without a good early warning system in place it’s easy to overeat, especially when we’re gobbling down everything in sight as fast as we can.

Food isn’t the only thing to watch out for. There are usually plenty of options of delicious drinks to wash down all those rich foods with. It might be decadent hot chocolate or Cousin Gerda’s legendary eggnog, but the calories can rack up pretty quickly.

You don’t have to starve yourself, of course. Holiday food is part of the fun. Just keep these tips in mind so you can stop the pounds before they start.