Stop Feeling Guilty this Holiday Season

Any foods- even holiday treats- can fit into a healthy eating plan. The key is moderation and balance.

The holidays are not the best time to try and lose weight. The best goal for this time of year is to maintain your current weight. Forget the all-or-nothing mentality. Aim to eat well 80 percent of the time. Depriving oneself of special holiday foods may cause overindulgence later or feelings of guilt. Don’t beat yourself up if you happen to go overboard one day. Instead of allowing that one day to be an excuse to “fall off the wagon,” accept the fact that you are human and will make mistakes. Attempting to eat perfectly all the time can be like setting yourself up for failure.

Set yourself up for success! Try these easy tips:

• Don’t starve yourself the day before a big meal or a holiday party. Eat small meals throughout the day to avoid hunger and keep your metabolism going.
• Stay active and keep moving. Keep your exercise routine during the holidays or fit in exercise by walking while shopping, ice skating with family, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Plan ahead by having healthy snacks like carrots or almonds on hand in case a snack attack strikes while out and about.
• At holiday parties, choose raw vegetables and fruits, boiled shrimp or scallops, pretzels, or whole grain crackers. Socialize away from the buffet table. Conversation is calorie free! Go easy on the alcohol.
• Instead of completely depriving yourself of holiday foods that you enjoy, try a small amount, like a spoonful, of each.
• Bring a healthy dish to a holiday party so that you know there will be a healthy choice to eat

Most importantly, stop feeling guilty! Accept yourself, faults and all, and enjoy this holiday season.

~GSU Coordinated Program Interns Group V