As a Fort Collins Nutritionist, last week I asked my blog, e-zine, and Facebook readers what their best tip for staying healthy throughout the holidays was. . . here are some of my favorites!
“Focus on quality rather than quantity. I try to reserve sweets and baked goods for special occasions when they are home made or high quality, which is an easy way to pass up the huge amount of cheap cookies and chocolates getting passed around.” – Colton, Littleton, CO
“I pack my little covered Pyrex container every morning. Today, I brought carrots, yogurt, bread, and cheese. It keeps me from stopping for cinnamon rolls!” – Andrea, Fort Collins, CO
“Learning portion control was my best lesson & easy to maintain weight now that I’ve integrated it into my life. Now I visualize that I have a smaller dish on my plate that is about 3.5″ x 6″ x 2″ deep… on a holiday I may indulge in those foods my family treasures from generations past, I simply keep my portions down to 2-3 bites of each item.” – Diane, Penfield, NY
“I try to drink peppermint tea with honey to keep cookie cravings at bay. Also, I have carrots, celery and peppers cut in the fridge. My table centerpiece is apples and the little oranges to grab for a quick snack. Not anything fancy, but I try to look at the good stuff and keep the cookies hidden in the garage.” – Jennifer, Nashville, TN
“Bring something healthy to eat if you are going to a party or bringing a dish for dinner. That way, you know that there will at least be one healthy thing for you to eat.” – Sarah, Fort Collins, CO
“Don’t use the holidays as an excuse to cop out; keep exercising. Indulge in the special foods, but set limits before you start eating them, and stick to your rules.” – Keith B., Fort Collins, CO
“Once upon a time I was on the swim team and I needed to be in a bikini in practice twice a day for a week one week after Christmas. . . it certainly kept me from eating too many cookies!” – Meghan, Rochester, NY
