Stay Healthy During the Holidays
PAGE 4
Watching Your Waist
Hosting your own party is great because you can pick and choose what you want to eat very easily. Eating at a friend's house or an office holiday party, however, is another matter altogether. The biggest foes to holiday dieters are empty calories found in refined crackers and cookies and the liquid calories in sugary drinks. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to avoid these items when they're all that's available.
Here are a couple of easy tips to keep in mind to prepare for these types of venues. With a little bit of forethought, you'll be able to enjoy yourself without popping a button in your trousers.
First, set yourself up for success by arriving full—or at least not starving. Put some fiber in your system by eating a small salad while you're getting ready. Or, if you're running late, eat a piece of fruit on your way. And when you get to the party, don't lurk by the snack table...that's just cruel.
Keep a glass of water in your hand at all times. Drinking plenty of water will help you stay full and keep at least one of your hands busy while also hydrating you from the inside out so you wake up with a glowing complexion—major plus! Additionally, keeping a glass of water in your hand will stave off the desire to down a few glasses of champagne and the few hundred calories that come with them.
If you do arrive starving and are craving a cocktail, observe moderation. Have a taste of the holiday offerings, but remember that these events are about socializing and enjoying the company of others, not about scarfing the free food and booze.
Hosting your own party is great because you can pick and choose what you want to eat very easily. Eating at a friend's house or an office holiday party, however, is another matter altogether. The biggest foes to holiday dieters are empty calories found in refined crackers and cookies and the liquid calories in sugary drinks. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to avoid these items when they're all that's available.
Here are a couple of easy tips to keep in mind to prepare for these types of venues. With a little bit of forethought, you'll be able to enjoy yourself without popping a button in your trousers.
First, set yourself up for success by arriving full—or at least not starving. Put some fiber in your system by eating a small salad while you're getting ready. Or, if you're running late, eat a piece of fruit on your way. And when you get to the party, don't lurk by the snack table...that's just cruel.
Keep a glass of water in your hand at all times. Drinking plenty of water will help you stay full and keep at least one of your hands busy while also hydrating you from the inside out so you wake up with a glowing complexion—major plus! Additionally, keeping a glass of water in your hand will stave off the desire to down a few glasses of champagne and the few hundred calories that come with them.
If you do arrive starving and are craving a cocktail, observe moderation. Have a taste of the holiday offerings, but remember that these events are about socializing and enjoying the company of others, not about scarfing the free food and booze.
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