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Your Holiday Eating Guide. . . De-Cluttered!

By
Home Stager with GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography

It happens every year. You know what I'm talking about. Those few extra holiday pounds . . . followed by the New Year's Resolution to lose them . . . followed by the denunciation of all New Year's Resolutions . . . followed by the "Bikini shape-up" in the Spring. . . followed by the confession that you always hated exercising anyway . . . followed by the tent dresses on the beach (or the, ah, so what, I'll let it all hang out! declaration) . . . eventually followed by the last turn of the calendar and the realization Pumpkin Piethat you never did lose those fruitcake pounds afterall.

Well, if you'd like to do it differently this year, here are a few tips on how to indulge during the holidays without the Ghost of Christmas past haunting you all year long.

1. Have your cake and eat it, too! on the days of celebration. Just because you have all the fixings on the big day, doesn't mean you need to throw in the towel for two solid weeks! Stick to a regular diet and good choices on the days inbetween.

2. Make it easy for yourself to make those good choices by not having a lot of those tempting goodies hanging around endlessly. Buy (or make) a reasonable quantity that will get consumed on the event days. King-sized might seem like the better deal, but it's not when you pay for it every day for the next few months!

Skating3. Take a lesson from the kids - get out there and play to burn off the extra calories and build good relationships all at the same time! Now I'm not talking just video games. Build a snowman, have a snowball fight, go to the playground. Make a fort. Go sledding, skiing and skating! If you live in an area without snow . . . you have even more options, and fewer excuses! Also try as much as possible to keep up with your regular exercise program to offset the eating. Throwing in the towel all 'round is asking for double trouble!

4. Eat before you go. While this seems a little contradictory, when you're starving, you'll nearly eat the table cloth before you know when to stop. Your mind tells you that because you waited all day, you're allowed to eat everything in sight. The problem is that you'll easily consume enough calories for the next two days. All those holiday treats are packed full of fat and sugar. Eat balanced meals high in fibre and veggies prior to the big event, and you'll set yourself up for better choices when you're there.

5. Educate yourself. Have you ever been brave enough to read the "nutritional information" at your favorite haunt?? I picked up a Starbuck's pamphlet the other day and was shocked to find out that several of the holiday lattes and blended drinks can have up to 500 calories each, without the whipped cream! Even with non-fat milk, the lattes are still 200 calories each for a Grande. That's 10-25% of your whole day's allotment. Makes you think twice, huh? Also learn what a real "serving size" of your favorite recipes is, and read how many calories are in one of those. I guarantee it's probably half the size of what you think it is. And lastly on this point, just because it's "salad" doesn't mean it is calorie-free. Find how many calories are in that dressing!

6. Quit cutting those pieces so big! A few years ago I started cutting a 9x9 pan of squares into at least 25  pieces. And then sometimes I cut those 25 squares into 50 triangles! When you have a plate of various goodies, you only need a small taste of each one to get your fill.

7. Choose your Poison - watch what you drink. Punch, eggnog, specialty coffees (as already discussed) . . . and alcohol! . . . are all loaded with calories. Personally, I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.

I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg, as there are many other ways to trim hidden calories and avoid extra temptation. Feel free to share your tips and tricks!

Merry Christmas!

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Posted by

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta

©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.

Comments (7)

Gary Swanson
Century 21 Harris & Taylor - Grants Pass, OR

Thanks for the tips Deena.  My biggest indulgence this time of year are chocolate covered cherries, and I can't seem to eat just one!

Dec 16, 2009 09:09 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

I used to looove those as a kid. I think it's been years since I've had one. I'm a sucker for chocolate and coconut together. I keep things in the freezer so I can't nibble without taking time to let the temptation "thaw".

Dec 16, 2009 10:56 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Deena, I eat pretty well but I confess to being a midnight snacker :(  Thankfully I don't have a weight issue because I always lose back whatever I've gained (which can be an issue as well!). 

Dec 16, 2009 11:03 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

We need you here at AR... to place us back on track.... keep it up, for we are listening.  Just WHERE did you come from?  Not to worry... just glad you came!  OK now.... i'm going to the refrigerator to get me a carrot to snack on....

Dec 18, 2009 06:50 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Yay! Another comment on this blog! It seems to have fallen a little flat. Maybe people just want their space to indulge already, and not feel bad about it!! Okay, I can respect that.

Thanks, Carole and Diane, my new AR friends! You are so faithful in stopping by and my heart really appreciates it. Carole, you are lucky! I only lose when I put my mind to it. Diane, I should have had carrots yesterday instead of "tasting" the squares and cookies I had to bake for my son's class. Well, I'm on my treadmill now . . .

Dec 18, 2009 07:14 AM
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Good tips ! I make it a rule to never bring back home any leftover  desert we made !!!

Dec 20, 2009 11:15 AM
Angie Stephens
Coldwell Banker Apex, REALTORS® - Wylie, TX
Collin County TX Specialist

You are so right!  Keep on track during the non-event days, don't steer away from the scale (what you don't know can hurt you), and keep exercising!

I try to eat the most nutritious, least caloric foods (in buffet, snack-as-you-visit situations) first to fill up.  Then I don't have as much room for the more calorically-dense goodies.

I loved it on Christmas day when our 5-year-old asked to have seconds on the "dessert":  baked sweet potatoes, no butter, no brown sugar!  My sister in law bought those Texas A&M Aggie sweet potatoes:  they are purple/maroon on the outside, white on the inside, and she sliced and baked them.  They were so, so sweet without the trimmings.  How funny that baby girl thought they were dessert and wanted more.  Yes, caloric, but also a nutritional element which is nonexistant in many of the dishes in our holiday spread!

Dec 30, 2009 01:39 AM