Managing the Holidays

by Pounds Staff 

The holiday season is truly a great time to be around friends and family members, laughing and having a good time. As they approach, it is important to have a plan for how you are going to enjoy the festivities while managing your weight as these events often center around food.   

If you are doing the hosting, remember YOU are in control.   

• If you are preparing all the food items yourself ensure that there are choices that are both delicious and that you can enjoy without feeling guilty.  Try to have options that cover all courses of the meal, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Think shrimp cocktail, turkey, low carb meatballs in a creamy parmesan sauce, Spinach and bacon quiche, low carb pound cake with diced strawberries and whipped cream.
• If you are having people contribute a dish, delegate what each person should bring, or allow them to bring what they would like. You then can prepare the dishes that you would like to have that will meet your nutritional needs.  In addition, ask that each person brings only enough food to serve a family of 4-6 people, or less if your gathering is small.  Don’t worry, there will be enough options for everyone to at least get a taste and be full!  On the plus side, you will not have lots of leftovers that are now at your place to tempt you afterward.  
• Be prepared with to-go containers ready, so extra food can be packed up and sent home with guests. 

If you will be a guest, remember YOU are in control. 

• With proper planning, you can be very much in control of what you eat when you are a guest at an event.  

• If you are not contributing a dish and are not sure what will be served, be sure not to skip meals leading up to the party.  You don’t want to arrive starving, as that will decrease your ability to control your intake and choices. 
• If you are contributing a dish, bring something that you know you will enjoy and meets your nutritional needs.
• If meals are served buffet-style, look at what is offered, and choose small portions of the foods you believe you may enjoy.  
• Do not pile food on your plate, each item you put on your plate should have its own spot.  If you cannot hold more food on the dish, stop and eat what you already have.  If you are still hungry later, you can always go back.  

Always enjoy your company, talk, laugh, and have fun!  This is the main reason for the event anyway, isn’t it?  

Finally, be mindful of how full you feel. When you start feeling comfortably full, STOP EATING! End the event feeling pleased with what and how much you ate versus eating so much you feel miserable afterward.