HOLIDAY RESCUE PLAN

THIS IS WHEN IT STARTS…THE FREAK OUT ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS.  YOU’VE BEEN SO GOOD -WATCHING WHAT YOU EAT, MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES, MAYBE YOU ARE EVEN TRACKING YOUR MACROS.  AND THEN…IT’S A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THAT HARD WORK IS IN JEOPARDY.  YOU ARE UP TO YOUR EYEBALLS IN CHRISTMAS COOKIES, AUNT LINDA IS MAKING HER FAMOUS (AND YOUR FAVORITE) POTATO GRATIN FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE WINE IS FLOWING.  CALORIES! CALORIES! CALORIES!  WHAT CAN YOU DO?  BELIEVE ME…I’VE BEEN THERE, TOO!  HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF MY GO-TO TIPS FOR MANEUVERING HOLIDAY FOOD TEMPTATIONS.

FIRST…ACCEPT THAT IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND ENJOY IT!  IT IS OK TO INDULGE A LITTLE BIT AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR SO DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT.

RESTAURANTS:  I DO A COUPLE THINGS TO PREPARE IF I’M GOING TO A RESTAURANT (I ACTUALLY DO THIS ALL YEAR LONG BUT DEFINITELY A GOOD THING TO DO DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON) – (1) I LOOK AT THE MENU AHEAD OF TIME TO SEE WHAT I MIGHT WANT, (2) SOMETIMES I EVEN CALL TO ASK ABOUT THE DAILY SPECIALS SO I’M NOT THROWN OFF MY GAME PLAN WHEN I GET THERE, AND (3) I MAKE SMART CHOICES THE REST OF THE DAY.  CHECKING OUT THE MENU AHEAD OF TIME REALLY HELPS ME STAY SUCCESSFUL WITH MY GOALS.  I CAN REALLY CHECK OUT THE INGREDIENTS IN EACH DISH I’M INTERESTED IN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR ME.  YES…THAT BEET SALAD SOUNDS AMAZING BUT HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN IT WITH THE CANDIED PECANS, GOAT CHEESE AND BALSAMIC GLAZE?  IS IT WORTH IT?  MAYBE IT IS.  MAYBE IT ISN’T.  THAT’S PART OF MY PROCESS.  IF I KNOW THAT I’M GOING TO INDULGE AT DINNER, I TRY TO MAKE SMARTER CHOICES THE REST OF THE DAY.  MAYBE I’LL CUT DOWN ON MY CARBS AT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.  MAYBE I’LL DRINK MORE WATER DURING THE DAY. I’LL JUST BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT I’M EATING THAT DAY.

HOLIDAY PARTIES: SO MUCH FUN, RIGHT?  AND USUALLY THERE ARE TONS OF LITTLE APPETIZERS TO TRY AND THEY ARE BITE-SIZED AND HARMLESS AND…I ATE TOO MANY PIGS IN A BLANKET!  SO…NOT TO BE A BUZZKILL BUT I LOOK UP THE CALORIE COUNT OF SOME POPULAR HORS D’OEUVRES AHEAD OF TIME.  THOSE TINY, CUTE PIGS IN A BLANKET…62 CALORIES EACH!  AND YOU CANNOT JUST HAVE ONE!  PAN-FRIED DUMPLINGS…53 CALORIES EACH.  AN OUNCE OF BRIE CHEESE ON THAT AMAZING CHARCUTERIE BOARD…95 CALORIES.  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND I USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO HELP ME NAVIGATE THE BUFFET TABLE.  OF COURSE I HAVE THE POTSTICKER AND THE BRIE BUT I MAKE SURE THAT I BALANCE THEM WITH THE CRUDITE VEGGIES (MINUS THE DIP) AND THE GRAPES ON THE FRUIT TRAY.  I ALSO MAKE SURE TO DRINK 8 OZ. OF WATER AFTER ANY GLASS OF WINE OR COCKTAIL.  NOT ONLY DOES THIS HELP KEEP ME HYDRATED…IT HELPS KEEP ME FEELING FULL!

HOLIDAY DINNER: THIS IS THE TOUGHEST ONE FOR A FEW REASONS -WE ALL HAVE OUR HOLIDAY FAVORITES THAT WE DON’T NORMALLY EAT DURING THE YEAR, IT’S HARD TO GET AN ACCURATE CALORIE COUNT ON HOME COOKING AND WE ALSO DON’T WANT TO OFFEND THE COOK BY NOT TRYING THINGS.  HOWEVER, THIS IS ALSO THE TIME WHEN I AM THE TOUGHEST…I KNOW WHAT I LIKE AND WHAT I DON’T LIKE AND I’M GOING TO POLITELY DECLINE THE THINGS I DON’T LIKE (OR ARENT’ WORTH IT TO ME)…LIKE SOUP AS AN APPETIZER.  I DON’T CARE IF YOU MAKE THE MOST AMAZING SOUP ON THE PLANET…I AM NOT EATING AN ENTIRE BOWL OF IT AND THEN MY MEAL.  I’D BE DONE BEFORE I EVEN GOT STARTED.  SO I WILL TAKE A TASTE AND THEN WAIT FOR THE MAIN MEAL.  I’M PRETTY FIRM ABOUT THIS…NICE BUT FIRM. I ALSO DON’T FILL MY PLATE TO THE BRIM WITH EVERYTHING I SEE.  I NORMALLY DO TWO GO-AROUNDS.  THE FIRST TIME THROUGH, I MIGHT TAKE THE TURKEY, A SMALL SCOOP OF MASHED POTATOES, VEGGIES, MAYBE A ROLL.  I EAT AND WAIT….AM I STILL HUNGRY?  IF SO, I GO BACK BUT IT’S NEVER FOR A COMPLETE REPEAT OF ROUND ONE.  THIS TIME, IT’S MORE VEGGIES, SALAD AND THEN WHATEVER THE ONE THING WAS IN ROUND ONE THAT WAS THAT GOOD I NEED MORE OF IT.  I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY EVERYTHING I WANTED WITHOUT STUFFING MY FACE…AND MOST IMPORTANTLY…I HAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT!

SWEETS: SWEETS ARE MY KRYPTONITE AND THEY JUST KEEP SHOWING UP AROUND THE HOLIDAYS!  THE BAKING, THE COOKIE SWAPS, THE GIFT BASKETS AND THANK YOUS…IT’S ENDLESS (AND AWESOME…LOL).  I HATE WASTING FOOD SO I HAVE A COUPLE TRICKS HERE, TOO.  IF I’M GIFTED A NON-PERISHABLE TREAT, I PUT IT IN MY PANTRY.  I’LL GET TO IT (I PROMISE) BUT I DON’T NEED IT IN MY KITCHEN, STARING AT ME SAYING “OPEN ME! OPEN ME!”  IF I RECEIVE A PERISHABLE ITEM, I TRY TO FREEZE SOME, KEEP SOME FRESH.  AGAIN…IF IT’S NOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE, I’M LESS LIKELY TO OVERINDULGE.  I ALSO LOVE TO BAKE AND TRY NEW RECIPES.BUT I ALWAYS SHARE… I DROP OFF SMALL SAMPLES TO MY FRIENDS TO TASTE TEST.  THESE LITTLE THINGS HELP ME FIGHT MY TEMPTATIONS!

MAKE TIME FOR ME!  THIS IS THE BIGGEST TRICK OF ALL…MAKING TIME FOR MYSELF DURING THE CRAZINESS OF THE HOLIDAYS!  WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT, RIGHT?  YOU DO! YOU HAVE TO! SET ASIDE AN HOUR EVERY DAY TO EXERCISE.  I PROMISE…THE PRESENTS WILL ALL GET WRAPPED, THE FOOD SHOPPING WILL GET DONE, THE DINNER WILL BE PREPARED.  AND…YOU WILL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.  MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY AND THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

CHEERS TO GOOD CHOICES, SMALL INDULGENCES AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!