Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here. Originally published on December 1, 2019. Updated on December 9, 2022. The main challenge for any dieter who’s faced with a flurry of holiday parties is that alcoholic beverages will be flowing and there will be fattening food everywhere you look. Should you just bag the weight loss plan and backslide into over-eating mode? Think of the general frustration and all that hard work going down the tubes. Your pants no longer being comfortable to wear… Plus, more than just being able to button your pants, staying dedicated to a healthy eating and exercise plan really is worth the extra effort and self-control. But don’t worry, you kicked the extra pounds, and you can stay strong. But how? Here are some tips for not letting those Christmas cravings get the best of you. You can take these general food “rules” with you to your holiday functions so you can both enjoy yourself and try to limit the holiday damage. Pick your potion (poison). Make sure that your choice of libation is on the less sweet side. Whether you’re low-carb or not, certain alcoholic beverages have more carbs and calories than others. Your best choices are dry red wine, or vodka-based mixed drinks made without sugar or sugary juice. Certain beers such as Michelob Ultra contain fewer carbs than others. And if you can, stick to just 2 or 3 drinks rather than getting blitzed. Drunk people are far more likely to succumb to the urge to gorge on cookies and other fattening foods. Rethink “full.” If you struggle to keep the weight off, one food rule that’s worth reconsidering is your idea of when to stop eating. We’re trained from an early age to clear our plate, and some families do have a habit of piling on the food. When faced with an array of amazing choices at the holiday buffet table, things can get out of hand. Appetizers or dinner, not both. So, appetizers are pretty much your favorite holiday indulgence, and for good reason. There are so many delicious ones to try, and you can have a nibble of everything. So this food Rule is instead of gorging on an array of appetizer choices and then moving on to Round 2 which is the main course, make the decision early on to do either or. If you pick dinner as your preferred indulgence, then limit your first course to salad and maybe a few bites on a small plate. Get used to smaller meals. Depending on your size and stature, you may want to rethink the traditional dinner plate as an appropriate meal. Instead, retrain your brain by fitting an entire, balanced meal’s worth of food into a soup bowl. A taller or big-boned person might require two soup bowls. There is no exact right amount, but just know that if you tend to be on the heavier side, you are likely consuming more calories than your body needs. These are just some food rules about what you should consider before heading out to your holiday parties and dinners. Remember it’s all about planning. If you think about this before you are actually confronted with a table full of delicious appetizers or a buffet of all your favorite Christmas desserts, you will be better able to manage what you eat. And avoid waking up with cookie regret in the morning! Loading…

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