Holiday substitutes?

lovetori977
lovetori977 Posts: 13 Member
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
What are your favorite healthy holiday treats that take place of the traditional unhealthy choices?
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Replies

  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    I just eat less goodies. I can't think of any substitutes.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    Same as above, I am just more aware of how much I am eating rather than trying to cut out all the tasty food that's around this time of year.
  • ghudson92
    ghudson92 Posts: 2,061 Member
    I am not avoiding anything. Will not be logging from Christmas eve through to boxing day. I figured three days out of the year won't affect my progress.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    nothing.

    i eat what, and how much i want on holidays and my birthday.

    a few days out of the year does not have any permanent ramifications.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Substitutes are almost always disappointing. It's less about unhealthy foods (beyond trans fats, I can't think of anything that is inherently unhealthy if it isn't toxic and you're not allergic to it) and more about unhealthy portions. The whole month of December shouldn't be one big cookie tour with hot cocoa and egg nog stations along the road :tongue:

    Christmas Day/Eve? I'm just going to eat and enjoy without compromising.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    I don't know of any "treats" that are "healthy"...


    quotes to emphasis the subjective nature of those terms.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/holiday-weight-gain/
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,899 Member
    None. I eat low carb (no woo, it just helps me stick to my calorie and protein goals), but we will have three kinds of glorious home baked cookies for Christmas, a yet to be determined dessert for Christmas day itself, possibly white mulled wine if I am feeling it, etc. I'll enjoy the treats in moderation, allow myself to eat to maintenance Christmas day if I want, and just keep trucking.
  • FL_Hiker
    FL_Hiker Posts: 919 Member
    edited December 2018
    You could substitute a banana for a slice of cheese cake, you know both have sugar, both are so yummy and creamy....

    Or you could just make room in your calories for the day for a slice of cheesecake and enjoy the holiday season, after all it only comes once a year? 😉
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    Substitutes are almost always disappointing. It's less about unhealthy foods (beyond trans fats, I can't think of anything that is inherently unhealthy if it isn't toxic and you're not allergic to it) and more about unhealthy portions. The whole month of December shouldn't be one big cookie tour with hot cocoa and egg nog stations along the road :tongue:

    Christmas Day/Eve? I'm just going to eat and enjoy without compromising.

    Yep^^
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    Substitutes are almost always disappointing. It's less about unhealthy foods (beyond trans fats, I can't think of anything that is inherently unhealthy if it isn't toxic and you're not allergic to it) and more about unhealthy portions. The whole month of December shouldn't be one big cookie tour with hot cocoa and egg nog stations along the road :tongue:

    Christmas Day/Eve? I'm just going to eat and enjoy without compromising.

    In for this! :drinker:
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    I can not think of any subsitutes for Christmas treats that would not lead to dissapointment. Especially for desserts. There just isn't. As far as dinners are concerned? Try to add in more veggies and exercise some portion control. Otherwise be picky with what you decide to indulge in. Don't just eat the treats because they are there. Eat them (with moderation) because it's something you love, and it is only available once a year. Limit your indulgences to where they will fit in your calorie goal, and enjoy. And on Christmas? Eat what you want, and resume better eating habits the next day.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    There are no substitutes. I log everything - maybe I go over my calories for a couple of days, but it takes more than a couple of days to pile on as many lbs as I've lost over a longer period. I still have mince pies, but one at a time rather than two, for example. I try and fit in as much exercise as I can, but it is literally only a few days so, rather than watch everyone else eat like a dog waiting for a treat, I eat a smaller amount of the same thing. Except cheese. :D
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I'm going to put fruit on the cake I make. Does that elevate it to a healthy treat?
    Portion control is my usual plan when it comes to high calorie, low nutrition foods.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    edited December 2018
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    pinuplove wrote: »
    Substitutes are almost always disappointing. It's less about unhealthy foods (beyond trans fats, I can't think of anything that is inherently unhealthy if it isn't toxic and you're not allergic to it) and more about unhealthy portions. The whole month of December shouldn't be one big cookie tour with hot cocoa and egg nog stations along the road :tongue:

    Christmas Day/Eve? I'm just going to eat and enjoy without compromising.

    In for this! :drinker:

    not a cookie tour - but how about a donut tour?
    https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/OH/TROY/TourDeDonut

    The Tour de Donut is a unique bicycle event, where your ability to eat donuts is just as important as your ability to ride your bicycle fast. The event is a mass start timed ride where riders visit donut stops and eat donuts. For each donut the rider eats during the ride (and keeps down) they have 5 minutes deducted from their ride time. There are prizes in several classes including the coveted golden Tour de Donut championship belt for the best adjusted "donut time". We also award the most donuts eaten in several classes, and for the speed freaks we also award the fastest bike only time.
    This ride is intended to be fun and include all cyclists pro to amateur, triathletes, tourist, fitness riders, fun riders, or you can dust off that two-wheeler you found along the road, or in the back of the barn you are not going to want to miss this event.
    While the event is a personal challenge, few consider it a serious competition, remember this is all in fun! We doubt the next Tour de France champion will have Tour de Donut Champion listed on his palmares, so eat some donuts and ride as fast or slow as you wish. All roads are open to traffic, and all traffic rules must be followed. Roads are marked with large custom donut markings (in several colors and some have sprinkles) so you do not get lost.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I am going to substitute this cake for the mince pie a different family member makes for Christmas dinner:5ktnm1ugj8em.jpg
  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    I just try to go for smaller portions and fewer servings of the high calorie dishes and treats.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    I think @Tacklewasher has a good substitute for Ferrero Rocher...
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    I think @Tacklewasher has a good substitute for Ferrero Rocher...

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    I don't substitute, but I do consider portions (both size and quantity). What helps me not filch a confectioners sugar dusted bite-size almond cookie every time I go by the festive tin that is going to be calling me over the next week is that last Christmas I put the recipe, which makes 5 dozen cookies, into MFP and *each* cookie is 100 calories. The chocolate-covered espresso beans that I get from Trader Joe .... 30 calories *each* and on it goes. So I will enjoy all the things and savor each, rather than being mindless about munching.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,620 Member
    I'll be substituting pumpkin pie for pecan pie, because it's a vegetable, so very healthy. Aw, who'm I kidding? I don't much like pecan pie, and I love pumpkin. If there's pumpkin and apple, I might have some of both, if I still have room for it. With ice cream.

    Christmas is a traditional celebration, and I don't plan to sit in a corner slowly consuming a tablespoon each of only the lowest-calorie foods on offer while everyone else digs in. Losing and maintaining weight, IMO, is about finding a balance between proper calories, tastiness, nutrition, social connection, celebration and various other factors. I'll be eating the things I enjoy eating, skipping the things I don't, and probably having a tiny bit more wine than I strictly need, as I don't need to drive home until morning. If that results in a pound extra to lose after the holidays, I'm not going to stress about it. I know how to lose a pound. (Admittedly, the temporary water weight and excess digestive comments, when they appear on the scale, may be epic. ;) )

    I didn't believe in doing anything while losing weight that I wasn't willing to do permanently to maintain weight, and effectively skipping Christmas dinner was not something I'd skip forever. I probably eat smaller portions than I once did . . . but they still aren't objectively small. It's Christmas. Christmas is a special occasion. I got fat because I thought Tuesday (and W, Th, Fr . . . ) was a special occasion, not because I thought of Christmas that way.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    Most of the time I'm like this with substitutions:

    Me: -Eating carrot hot dog-
    Also me: Nothing like hot dog, but is good!

    I.e. carrot hot dogs are good, but it's because it's a yummy savory carrot in a bun, not because it actually tastes like a hot dog.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Is there a good egg nog protein drink?

    Or maybe I could make a good egg nog protein drink, what with having egg and all?
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    I think @Tacklewasher has a good substitute for Ferrero Rocher...

    bexl0hkdc72j.jpg

    My wife will not let me do this to take into work.

    mmmm I might break my 'no present rule'... although, my brother will know something is up when I pull out a present for him :tongue:
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I'll be substituting pumpkin pie for pecan pie, because it's a vegetable, so very healthy. Aw, who'm I kidding? I don't much like pecan pie, and I love pumpkin. If there's pumpkin and apple, I might have some of both, if I still have room for it. With ice cream.

    Christmas is a traditional celebration, and I don't plan to sit in a corner slowly consuming a tablespoon each of only the lowest-calorie foods on offer while everyone else digs in. Losing and maintaining weight, IMO, is about finding a balance between proper calories, tastiness, nutrition, social connection, celebration and various other factors. I'll be eating the things I enjoy eating, skipping the things I don't, and probably having a tiny bit more wine than I strictly need, as I don't need to drive home until morning. If that results in a pound extra to lose after the holidays, I'm not going to stress about it. I know how to lose a pound. (Admittedly, the temporary water weight and excess digestive comments, when they appear on the scale, may be epic. ;) )

    I didn't believe in doing anything while losing weight that I wasn't willing to do permanently to maintain weight, and effectively skipping Christmas dinner was not something I'd skip forever. I probably eat smaller portions than I once did . . . but they still aren't objectively small. It's Christmas. Christmas is a special occasion. I got fat because I thought Tuesday (and W, Th, Fr . . . ) was a special occasion, not because I thought of Christmas that way.

    I always request pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving so there is more pecan pie for me :lol:
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