They're coming --
Holidays -- How are you going to handle gorgeous, fattening foods that inevitably accompany every party, gathering or event?Food is a big and wonderful part of holiday tradition.... From Thanksgiving to New Years, we stuff our faces with Aunt Linda's famous pumpkin pie to Grandma's N.Y. style cheese cake. (Actually, it all starts with Junior's Halloween candy.)
Learning to deal with mass quantities of fattening food doesn't have to be painful. Instead, get to root of Holiday munchies:
1. Take stress away. Stress causes many of us to overeat. This year, cut out a few of more stressful holiday events. It is OK to say, "No."
For instance, traveling during holidays can cause extra stress that you don't need. Put your foot down this year and tell your relatives that you're not going to travel.
Or maybe your stress is caused by having a gazillion people over to your house for dinner. This year consider having a quiet dinner or suggest that it's someone else's turn to play host.
Spending too much on gifts can also be an unneeded stress. Try telling relatives you'd like to cut down on gift giving this year... just tell plain truth - money is tight and you can't afford it. Instead, suggest a lower cost alternative... like trading homemade gifts or putting a limit on gift cost.
Whatever source of your stress, nail it down and remove it. And throw guilt out window. You will feel relieved and happy with control that you exert over situation. It's your choice to take control... don't leave room for excuses.
2. Focus on holiday activities, not holiday food. Go ice skating, caroling, or read a favorite holiday book. Don't be afraid to start your own traditions. Instead of focusing on baking and cooking traditions make a new tradition surrounding an activity like decorating your own door wreath.
3. Replace some of your high calorie holiday foods with low calorie or healthier options. Replace cookies with fruit, replace rich candies with nuts, replace an apple pie with ambrosia.
Every year, my mom used to include a carton of malted milk balls in our stockings. I've created a healthy alternative: I put tropical fruits like coconut, large naval oranges, mangos, and star fruit in stockings. In our house, one of highlights of Christmas morning is when my son finds a coconut in bottom of his stocking. (It's easy to make your own traditions, just focus on things that you and your significant others enjoy!)
