Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

Healthy eating during the holidays can be tough. With parties and dinners galore, who could say no to all that delicious food? During the festive holiday season it seems like tradition to indulge in calorie rich, fatty foods. Eating healthy during the holidays doesn't mean you have to pass up on your favorite foods. By simply applying some will power and eating in moderation you can eat healthy during the holidays. Maybe this year you won't be making resolutions to loose weight and get in shape.

The best thing to remember before going to any holiday party or dinner is not to arrive with an empty stomach. If you haven't eaten in several hours your appetite may get the best of you, causing you to overeat. Before going over the river and through the woods, have a light snack to help curb your hunger. If you don't have time to grab something to nosh on start off the party with a handful of nuts, or a small dish of salsa and tortilla chips. You should opt for salsa over dip because it is lower in fat and loaded with healthy vegetables.

Appetizers
If the party you're attending is only serving appetizers and drinks it can be hard to make healthy choices. Many holiday appetizers are made with high amounts of fat, red meat, and dairy products; all of which take the body a long time to break down. When it comes to choosing your appetizers wisely it is best to snack on fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Just don't load them up with creamy dips or sugary coatings. The fruits and vegetables will provide you with nutrition and some of the necessary roughage we all need during the holidays.

If the thought of only eating fruits and vegetables isn't exactly your idea of a good time, that's okay. You can basically eat whatever you want, but in moderation. Grab a plate and go for a little bit of everything if you want. Just remember to keep the portions small and only consume one plate of food. Instead of having a pig in a blanket, have a piece of cheese and meat. The calorie and fat content of the pig in a blanket is much higher, it also has more saturated fat, and contains many more preservatives.

Now that we're on the subject of cheese, it is best to completely avoid spreads and cheese balls. These cheese products are very unhealthy because they are loaded with saturated fats and salt. You're better of sticking with the cubed and sliced cheeses. The same thing goes for many meats served at holiday parties. Processed meat like hot dogs and salami should be passed up for the healthier chicken, turkey, or fish. If you're craving something salty have a couple of olives or a pickle.

Drinks
A bottle of beer spreads holiday cheer, a sip of gin creates holiday grins, and a glass of wine is fine. When it comes to holiday drinking be responsible and make sure you have a designated driver. Being responsible about your social drinking is also important. Never drink on an empty stomach because you'll end up feeling sick or tipsy. Alcohol is loaded with sugar and carbohydrates and is very fattening. Cider is healthier than eggnog but if you always drink eggnog choose a low fat version. Wine is less fattening than beer and if you choose red you are helping your heart.

Non alcoholic drinks can also be bad for you. Instead of having hot coca with cream, try Chai tea with milk instead. The tea is much less fattening and some cups of hot cocoa pack more than 200 calories. It is best to avoid all sodas and juice and drink clear liquids or water when possible. Coffee should also be consumed in moderation. The holidays are exciting enough; do you really want that after dinner cup of coffee keeping you up all night?

Dinner
Being invited to share a holiday feast with friends or family is a wonderful way to spend the holidays. If you've been invited to a holiday dinner don't be afraid to ask what's on the menu. If nothing sounds too healthy suggest bringing a dish to share. It's likely the host will thank you and graciously accept your offer. Prepare a dish that's healthy but can be enjoyed by everyone. Sweet potatoes, squash, and beans are always good choices. Just remember to lay off the butter and sugar when preparing holiday dishes.

Holiday dinner means many things to all kinds of people. Some may enjoy fish and gravy, others will feast on turkey and stuffing, and some may serve pasta dishes like lasagna. Poultry, fish, and meat are fine but skip the gravy and you will be consuming fewer calories and fat. Casseroles are often loaded with fat and cream so you're better off filling your plate with wholesome vegetables. As long as you eat in moderation you can eat whatever you want, healthily. Eating rich, home cooked meals is part of the holiday season but you don't have to overindulge.

Desserts
Holiday sweets and treats can be very tempting but you must exert will power here. One or two sweets may be fine but don't have pie, cake, cookies, and candy all in the same sitting. Holiday cookies are especially bad for you. Cookies begin as flour, fat, and sugar and we then top them with sugary frostings and decorations. Pie and cake are just as bad but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy them. Simply have a sliver instead of a slice and you will cut your calorie intake in half, or better. Healthy holiday eating can be achieved by avoiding certain foods, not arriving hungry, and making health conscious choices.