Eat Well for the Holidays

Holidays can be a hectic time of year which may lead to bad health decisions and potential weight gain.  Take these simple steps to keep your body, mind and spirit in check till New Year:

1. Use a smaller plate to provide the visual illusion of feeling fuller.
2. Drink a glass of water or bowl of warm soup before your meal.  Often we are dehydrated instead of hungry.
3. Be active before/after holiday meals.  Go for a walk with the dog, play a game with the family, fit in an express workout, or join a holiday fun run.  
4. Include plenty of color on your plate and focus on filling up on the veggies first.
5. Limit yourself to one "celebration" beverage such as eggnog or alcohol.
6. Ask if you can bring along a healthy option to the meal (such as veggies and dip, sweet potatoes, salad).  Knowing there is a "safe" choice will help curb cravings.
7. Engage in conversation to ensure you listen to your internal signs for hunger to avoid overeating.
8. Try to limit yourself to only one sweet per meal (one slice of pie, one cookie, one chocolate).