Add herbs and fruit to sparkling water.
It’s time to celebrate and relax and for most of us, that means a few good meals. Holiday meals often come with friends and family and with them loads of distractions otherwise known as holiday cheer. Festive drinks and fancy desserts add to the temptation of overindulging. So for those of us trying to either slim down for fertility or at least not gain any weight, these are challenging times.
Tips and tricks to curb your holiday calories:
- Fancy Water
A pitcher of flavorful, festive water at your table or available as an alternative to alcohol will help everyone get through the night. Sliced strawberries and lemon look beautiful in a crystal decanter and may lesson a hangover in the morning. Try fresh mint and rosemary in another. Kids may even appreciate these choices over the usual sparkling apple cider, which is loaded with sugar, especially if you let them make you a healthy concoction.
- Fruit for Dessert
Fresh fruit with a dollop of homemade whipped cream is an excellent choice for dessert. It’s loaded with healthy antioxidants and vitamins and is delicious. If it is not being served, bring it.
- Choose More Vegetables
Salads and vegetables should take up half your plate. Feel in control with healthy choices. Again, if casseroles and starchy, cheesy pastas are what’s planned, you bring the greens. They are usually fast and easy to make. Fresh pomegranate seeds sprinkled on a bed of spinach with mandarin orange slices or pear and a lemon vinaigrette, yes please. Roasted Brussels sprouts or cauliflower with red onion can be just as festive and satisfying as heavy mashed potatoes and gravy and are a much healthier choice.
- Walk It Off
Make moving around part of the plan. If there’s a relative or friend that you hardly ever get to really talk to, plan an after dinner walk with them. And arrange another walking party if the kids need to be taken out too. You deserve an extra special break with your favorite person. And maybe your uncle needs to be in charge of getting the kids out to toss a football or walk the dog. Set up expectations early in the evening. When people know there’s a walk or a backyard toss coming up, they may eat and drink a little less. At the very least, a bit of running around will help everyone digest.
- Indulge a Little
It’s okay to have a slice of your favorite dessert or a bit of stuffing. You deserve it. Just be mindful about how much you eat and drink and do not fall prey to stress eating just because it is offered or in front of you. You have a higher agenda then just getting through the night. Whether it be looking amazing in the new year, getting pregnant, or just being healthier – that goal is yours to keep. And you have the fresh start of 2022 to accomplish your dreams. -Cheers
