How to Enjoy Multiple Holiday Dinner Celebrations in One Day

It is highly likely that during the holidays you will be invited to more than one holiday meal. This is a problem that many are faced with each holiday season: one "special day"-but several different places to eat. You've got your in-laws, your own holiday table, family, friends, coworkers, etc. There is a great chance that you'll be hopping from house to house, with all sorts of treats shoved in front of your face. Loved ones will beg you to sample their special dishes. But the fact is that your belly can only hold so much turkey and dressing. So what do you do, when you've got multiple dinners to attend and only so much intestinal space? These three major tips might help...

Start Early

Most people tend to skip breakfast during the holidays, preferring to save room for all the goodies they're going to consume. But in this instance, it's very easy to binge, which will only make things worse. You may not think so. But it's probably best to start eating fairly early in the day. That means no skipping breakfast. While this may sound impossible, it's actually quite easy. Fruit, a small wheat muffin, and coffee can help to prime your stomach, and keep you from feeling starved by noon. The key is to keep your breakfast foods light, filling and healthy. If you eat too heavily in the morning (especially if you're eating bad foods) then you will have a harder time enjoying your holiday meals.

Portion Control

This term is tossed around all year long. But during the holidays portion control will most definitely be your best friend. The good thing about portion control is that it allows you to sample several of your favorite dishes without as much of the guilt (or that extra full feeling.) You might even want to save the desserts until later. Provided that nothing will melt, wrap up these sweet treats and nosh on them at home. With all that great food around you, it's most definitely going to be hard not travel back into the kitchen for seconds or thirds. But if you can keep those portions reasonable, your diet will thank you later.

Spreading It All Out

If you are celebrating with coworkers, friends, and multiple sets of family members, it's a good idea to get a handle on where you might be consuming the most calories. For example, nibble lightly on bread, salads, and hors d'oeuvres at festivities with casual acquaintances. Does your mother-in-law actually make better stuffing than your own mom (shhh)? If so, make a point to "stock up" on the best dressing at one home or the other. Try to scarf down as many vegetables as you can as early as possible throughout your holiday feast(s). The veggies may help you to feel fuller and digest your food, so that you won't indulge in lots of heavy, starchy, fat-laden dishes.

SOURCES:

www.foodnetwork.com
www.ivillage.com
www.about.com