Holiday Ahead...Help!
Jomommablue
Posts: 2 Member
Alright Thrivers, I've been working so hard over the last 11 weeks, I can't lose my momentum.
The holidays are a harder time for me to make healthy choices. So many of my family's traditions are surrounded by food, especially sweets e.g. my grandma's Almond Roca that I make every year, a Swedish Tea Ring, which is a cinnamon bread shaped like a wreath, sugar cookies, fudge, and we can't forget the Gingerbread. What are some ways you've been able to continue making good choices and continue making progress during the holidays? Any and all suggestions are welcome!!
The holidays are a harder time for me to make healthy choices. So many of my family's traditions are surrounded by food, especially sweets e.g. my grandma's Almond Roca that I make every year, a Swedish Tea Ring, which is a cinnamon bread shaped like a wreath, sugar cookies, fudge, and we can't forget the Gingerbread. What are some ways you've been able to continue making good choices and continue making progress during the holidays? Any and all suggestions are welcome!!
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Moderation is the best thing for me. If I feel deprived, bad things happen!1
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This is a great question and something I struggle with every year. I agree with Sarah; you definitely want to enjoy your holiday traditions but in moderation. Here are a few things that I have learned lately that I find interesting:
1) Eat an apple before you consume your holiday feast/treats. The way I understand it is apples are full of fiber and will make you feel more full, and thus you will not consume as much. It also takes longer for the body to break down fiber, so the pancreas can handle the sugar better without spiking insulin levels too much.
2) I learned that the brain only releases dopamine for the first few bites of food. After that, we are just chasing the dopamine high. Keeping that in mind sometimes helps me to enjoy just a small taste of something and then move on to better options.
3) Another practice is to really focus on savoring the food you consume. Pay attention to the flavor, the temperature, the texture, etc. By savoring and slowing down the experience, we allow the body more time to register that it is satisfied, and thus can prevent overeating.1 -
Similar to Carrie's apple suggestion - I like to keep a healthy choice at hand. I tend to nibble a lot when I am hanging out in the kitchen for holiday cooking. So I keep cut up fruit and veggies on the counter. I find if the option is in front of me, I make better choices.2
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