Remember, portion control is the key. So, exercise a little restraint and avoid piling your plate high with food. Also, don’t go for seconds unless you’ve waited at least 20 minutes. Trust me – your body will thank you for it!
Drinking Dilemmas
It’s very easy to add unnecessary calories over the Christmas period by drinking fizzy drinks and alcohol. Opt for low calorie fizzy drinks and water where possible. If you do choose alcoholic drinks, limit yourself to one or two and stick with light beer or white wine. Try alternating your alcoholic beverages with sparkling water or another low calorie beverage.
Seriously Healthy Snacking
Try to avoid unnecessary calories by choosing wisely in the snack department. Go for unsalted nuts, dried fruit, raw vegetables with a low fat dip or fresh fruit, and save calories by keeping the high fat, sugar (and salt) options to an occasional treat.
If you want to avoid weight gain or increased cholesterol over the holidays it’s important to pay attention to healthy eating and exercise right now. Remember, healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. With a little imagination your meals can be tasty and heart healthy!
Seasons Greetings and Best Wished for the New Year!
Melanie Thomassian is a registered Dietician and writes regular blogs on nutrition, exercise and general tips for maintaining a heart healthy lifestyle for CholesterolNetwork and MyHeartCentral.
