It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It can also be the most stressful if you have put time and energy into maintaining a certain diet or weight. Use these functional nutrition tips to make sure you don’t get sidetracked.
Plan for Travel
When you know that you will be traveling, planning is key. Stay hydrated and pack snacks whether you are traveling by car or plane. Knowing that you have healthy options will keep you from reaching for the sugary sodas and vending machine snacks. Instead pack a refillable water bottle and some portable things that you like to eat – popcorn, protein bars, or nuts or seeds are all easy to grab and go. Having snacks will also help you avoid the sugar cravings, find options and spending on over-priced items. Saving time and money sounds like the perfect recipe for the holiday season.
Portion at Parties
Most holidays include either an office party or family gathering that will include many tempting sweets. Two ways to make sure you still follow functional nutrition are to eat before you go or to take a healthy dish with you that you can enjoy. Also, keep portion sizes in control and instead fill up on protein and vegetables. If you know that you want to enjoy pumpkin pie, you might need to forego the sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. If you are hosting the party yourself, even better, you can control the health level of the snacks and food you put out.
Be Joyful!
It can be easy to focus on what you can’t have and feel that you are missing out. Instead, focus on the real purpose of the holidays – the joy of spending time with people you care about. Wear a crazy costume on Halloween, go out for a family walk after the big meal on Thanksgiving Day, or focus on volunteering and giving back to the community around Christmas or Hanukah. Remember to enjoy all the parts of the season that don’t rely on food at all. Try to communicate this to your friends and family so that you can spend time doing more non-food related activities or be mindful of them and still have fun together.
The holidays can be overwhelming, and it is okay to ask for help. A functional nutritionist can help you make the right choices. Nutritionists can provide great ideas of menu swaps that still have great taste and are filling without sabotaging your diet. Reach out to our team about meeting a specialist this season!
