5 Tips for Holiday Eating at Festive Family Gatherings

We’re already halfway through December and holiday festivities are in full swing. While we love this time of year, it can be an especially challenging time when it comes to our health. A combination of all the delicious holiday treats and our busy schedules make it tough to stay on top of a healthy diet and regular exercise.

To help you combat these holiday challenges, we created this list of 5 tips to help you make it through this joyful season without regrets!

1. Focus on Moderation – Not Deprivation

Holidays are a tough time to start a diet – so we say save that for the new year! During the holidays, focus on eating appropriate portion sizes rather than depriving yourself of your favorite foods. If chocolate peppermint bark is your favorite holiday treat, indulge in one square rather than three.

2. Bring a Healthy Treat

With all of the holiday parties going on the month of December, it can be hard to avoid the delicious and festive treats. If you are assigned to bring a treat, opt for a healthier one, such as this Greek Yogurt Gingerbread from Gimme Some Oven or a colorful fruit salad with a sprinkle of sugar and lime juice. This way you know there will be at least one healthier option for you at the party!

3. Stay Active

Many holiday traditions revolve around food (i.e. gingerbread cookies, candy canes, fruit cake). Start a tradition that includes some sort of fun physical activity. Find a local holiday race to participate in to keep you motivated to stay active. Anything from a 3K walk to a marathon! Get family and friends to join you and make it even more fun. Click here to find a race near you.

4. Meal Plan

Okay, this isn’t just a shameless plug for our meal plan service – planning out your meals can really save you when time seems to fly by around the holidays! Plan and prep your meals ahead of time to avoid making last minute fast-food runs or relying on heavily processed meals. Doubling recipes and freezing meals can also be huge time-savers.

5. Watch the Holiday Drinks

Drinks such as apple cider, hot cocoa, soda, and alcoholic beverages tend to be very popular around the holidays. Don’t deprive yourself, but remember that these drinks can add many excess calories that we sometimes forget about. Enjoy these beverages in moderation and remember that water is always the healthiest drink. Try concocting flavored water by chopping a variety of fruits and adding them to sparkling water for a tasty beverage!

These are just a few tips to help you stay healthy and happy over the holidays. Do you have any tips that have worked for you to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

As always, we strive to help you live a healthier and happier life in the kitchen by sending you helpful cooking tips and resources to your inbox weekly. Sign up for our newsletter below to get our newest healthy cooking and eating tips, and you’ll be on your way to living your healthiest life yet!