“It’s Christmas Time, Mistletoe & Wine”
Oh yes, and party time and snacking time!!
If you’re like the average Christmas party goer, then any thoughts of being good at this time of the year generally go out the window. The array of snacks and drinks on offer are all tempting and the encouragement of “go on, it’s only once a year” reduces your resolve very quickly. Peer pressure to conform is very difficult to resist! Have you ever heard of the saying,
“it’s my party and I’ll eat if I want to”?
So, that is a little bit of a changed saying, but, according to a very recent study on snacking behaviours, you are more likely to snack when it is a special occassion, or there is an opportunity put in front of you (think platters of food!). And, let’s face it, Christmas is generally considered a special occassion, as are all the office parties, the family get togethers, the friend catchups!
The question then remains, how do you avoid these tempting snacks, or the drinks that are on offer, and remain true to your plan of healthy eating?
My plan
- Avoid Hunger
One way to be free from the temptation of the food platter is to go to the party with a full stomach. This can be achieved by having a snack before you arrive, consisting of high protein and fibre and lower in calories. This will create the sensation of fullness so that you can still have one or two tempting treats, but you won’t be searching for something to overcome that inevitable hunger attack when you first arrive after being at work all day.
- Avoid Stress
Stress can lead to emotional and compulsive eating. Christmas creates a lot of stress for many people and for a variety of reasons. Remember this when you are heading into the Christmas season. Some ways you can avoid stress are to incorporate meditation into your daily routine, complete a gratitude diary every evening before bed and to utilise adaptogenic herbs that can allow you to manage your stress better. Personally, I use herbs such as ashwagandha, eleuthero, and shizandra daily to mitigate my stress levels.
- Have a Plan
Drinking alcohol, or even sweet cocktails, seems to be on the increase around the party season. These are the hidden and empty calories that will ensure you become a statistic and increase your weight by 5kg (about 10lb) over the holiday season. Plan to swap or replace these drinks with a healthy option. If you don’t want to appear to be ‘the only one not drinking’, plan to have a spritzer (half wine, half soda water) and ensure you alternate this with a glass of water. This plan will take you far into the holiday season without adding the weight to your body. Other options available today include low (or no) alcohol drinks. I especially love using bottle sparkling water, I always feel I’m having a special drink, add a slice of lemon or lime and some ice and an umbrella and I’m in party land!
- Use Balanced Snacks
Make sure you carry balanced snacks with you during the holiday season. By balanced snacks, I’m talking about snacks that contain carbohydrates, protein, fats and fibre. Small snacks such as these will give you that full feeling and that extra energy you need to get through the hustle and bustle of food preparation, present buying and present wrapping, all while finishing up your work deadlines in time for the summer break!
- Be Gentle On You
Remember, it’s alright if you splurge once in a while. Remember to have a plan to get back onto the road of healthy eating and living the very next day. Don’t allow a night of indulgence ruin your plans by the allure of, well, I’ve done it now, might as well really ruin it!! Pick yourself back up the next day and get right back into your healthy eating plans, look forward and not behind you, it’s difficult to keep moving forward when you’re constantly looking over your shoulder.
- Begin Today
Avoid the temptation to start your New Year’s resolution to commit to a healthy lifestyle in 2015. Begin today! Use your healthy lifestyle plans to begin your Life Journey today, every step forward is a step further ahead. By waiting until January 1, you’ve wasted over 2 weeks of your precious life!!
To get started on your healthy Life Journey, using healthy balanced snacks and meals, contact me now!
Snacking, courtesy of Isagenix
Natures Healing 