During the holidays, no one wants to be on a rigid diet. We wish to take advantage of the abundance of old favourites. How can the holidays be enjoyed without putting on weight? It’s not that difficult, according to dietitians, if you plan beforehand.
Start by altering your perspective.
When mid-November arrives, if you’ve been trying to lose weight, switch your attention from weight reduction to weight maintenance. So that you may enjoy the holiday delicacies and wait until the new year to go back on your weight reduction plan, give yourself a few treats and make weight maintenance your objective.
Second, manage your calories wisely.
When hosting dinners and events, try to reduce calories whenever you can without sacrificing tradition or flavour. You’ll enable everyone to savour the abundant cuisine without consuming extra calories. Remember that losing weight is considerably tougher than maintaining a healthy weight.
Here are 10 suggestions to make your holiday dinners healthier.
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Make Smart Holiday Purchases
Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nutritious grains, and low-fat dairy products in your menu planning.
When selecting foods that are high in nutrients yet low in fat, calories, and sugar, refer to the nutrition label.
To save calories, go easy when adding nuts, cheese, cream sauces, gravy, butter, and whipped cream.
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Commence the party light
The majority of appetisers are usually very calorie-dense. Additionally, it is very simple to overeat them before a meal.
By providing lite and filling appetisers, you can make your guests’ lives easier. Serve shrimp cocktails, whole-grain crackers with reduced-fat cheese, vegetables with a low-fat yoghurt dip, or fresh fruit skewers as tasty yet healthful appetisers.
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Leverage the power of produce in your diet
Instead of serving up heavy dishes with sauces, boost the simple vegetable and fruit dishes on your menu. Your guests won’t consume a lot of extra calories while filling up on healthful fibre.
In comparison to classic green bean casserole, green bean almandine with a splash of lemon is healthier. Corn or peas without cream are healthier than those with cream. If you must have casserole, swap out the fried onions for low-fat soup, raise the amount of vegetables, and top it with crunchy whole-grain cereal.
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In the winter, go frozen.
When fruits and vegetables are in season, fresh is usually better. Go to the frozen food section instead when prices are higher in the winter.
Because they are harvested at the peak of ripeness and frozen right away, frozen fruits and vegetables are frequently less expensive and sometimes more nutrient-dense.
Foods in cans can also be nutritious. Find fruits and vegetables with fewer added sugar and sodium by reading the nutrition labels. By rinsing the fruit or vegetable under cold water prior to cooking, you can further reduce the sodium and sugar solutions.
- Follow any special requests
Ask your guests if they have any dietary restrictions or intolerances while you prepare your holiday menu. For instance, a close buddy might have a lactose intolerance. It’s possible that a loved cousin stopped eating red meat.
You can’t win everyone over. However, you can add a wide range of nutritious foods. Then, regardless of their dietary restrictions, your guests may pick and choose while filling their plates with a great lunch.
- Simple Switches to Reduce Calories
By reducing calories wherever you can, make healthier versions of your favourite holiday dishes.
Calorie savings can be achieved by making simple substitutions for lower-fat items; no one will even notice.
Replace items heavy in fat with chicken stock, fat-free yoghurt, light cream cheese, and low-fat milk. Applesauce or nonfat yoghurt can be used in place of oil in baked products.
- For rich aroma and less calories, roast or grill your food.
A quick, low-calorie cooking method that enhances the sweetness and flavour of food is roasting or grilling meat, seafood, vegetables, and potatoes.
Instead of the conventional calorie-dense casserole, try roasting sweet potatoes with a little of butter spray and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
Pork chops covered in mushroom cream can be swapped out for grilled pork chops that are served with a mango salsa.
- Offer wholesome desserts
Try chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert for a festive and mouthwatering finish.
Pick the healthier pumpkin pie if you wish to serve pie. Use evaporated non-fat milk to make it. Add some fat-free whipped topping on top.
- The Beverages You Fizz
Holiday drinks like eggnog and others may pack on a tonne of calories. Make sure to have lots of low-calorie beverages for your guests, such as diet Coke, sparkling water, or a punch.
Alcohol can enhance hunger and remove inhibitions. Combining such factors may cause you to eat more than you intended. Offer straightforward alcoholic beverages like wine and beer without the hefty cocktail mixers as a courtesy to both you and your visitors. Additionally, be sure to provide non-drinkers with mocktails or other non-alcoholic options.
- Plan and monitor to prevent holiday weight gain
Simply cooked items without sauces or frying should be placed on your plate after perusing the buffet. Sit down and take your time to taste and enjoy each bite.
Though the holidays are distinguished by a variety of customs, their true significance lies in the time spent with loved ones.
You won’t put on any weight over the holidays if you follow these suggestions. And if you do indulge, just return to your regular diet and exercise routine and attempt to make better decisions at the next gathering.
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