The holiday season means holiday eating, but that doesn’t mean you have to dread it, worry about gaining weight, or be miserable. The key to enjoying food at big family meals or parties at the office, with friends or neighbors is to follow the wisdom of our November theme of the month: moderation! Here are 5 ways to practice moderation in holiday eating without killing your mood and still having a great (guilt-free) time:
H2O. You’re human. You’ll probably want to feast on the appetizers, drinks, and heap your plate high with the delicious spread your eyes feast on. But sometimes our brains confuse the signals of hunger and thirst. So when you walk through the door, drink one full glass of water first. With hydration, your stomach and eyes will then be in a better position to work together to make the right decisions for your body.
EAT, CHEW, FORK DOWN, REPEAT. Holiday meals tend to be longer and slower than regular meals. Take advantage! Take a bite of your food, chew it at least ten times before swallowing, and put your fork down in between each bite. Slowing down will allow you to eat less, taste your food more, and maybe even appreciate your company more!
EAT SLOWLY. Wait 20 minutes before going back for seconds. You’ll be less likely to take as much because your brain will have had more time to inform your stomach it’s full.
PROTEIN FIRST. Go for the protein, then the veggies, and then the carbs. Eating the protein first will slow down the absorption of the carbs and fill you up more quickly.
ALCOHOL. Alcohol is a lot of calories. Moderate your intake. Remember, the Mediterranean diet, which advocates one glass of wine a day, advises that you lose those health benefits once you start upping your intake. So indulge, yes, just wisely. You’ll feel better later. And tomorrow.
DASHA® is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
