Stay Thin Without Stifling Your Holiday Spirit

CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. – Nutritionists say keeping the pounds off during the holiday season is a matter of portion control, physical activity, and not letting stress get the best of you.

“The really large portions are the biggest problem, the sheer volume of food people are consuming,” says Nutritionist Rachel Harris, of the Hudson Valley Hospital Center, “The all-day snacking is a big problem, alcohol definitely, and a lot of the foods are really high in fat.”

“Frying a turkey is not the best thing from a nutrition standpoint,” she quips. She says cutting back on fat, oil and large portions can keep people from gaining pounds during the holidays.

A Croton-based holistic health coach and yoga teacher, Solange LaBonne, also zeroed in on large portions being a health problem. She said instead of piling food onto your holiday plate, try starting with a small portion. “A piece of protein the size of your fist, and load up on the greens,” she says.

Planning ahead for lots of holiday chores can also help. “In particular for women,” says LaBonne, “because we’re doing most of the work for this holiday. You’re running around like a banshee, you don’t have time to eat properly, and you end up noshing on whatever’s around.”

Nervousness during holiday parties can also cause people to overeat. LaBonne says she tells her students to go somewhere quiet, just for a moment, and “be contemplative.” She says thinking about what you’re what you’re about to eat can keep you from mindlessly munching your way through a party.  

“Make activity part of the day,” says Harris, “So whether the family goes for a walk, some sort of physical activity in the day.” Harris also recommends having a conversation with your family about trying to lose weight, or not gain weight.

Making small changes to holiday meals, like adding skim milk to mashed potatoes, instead of cream, can keep the holiday pounds off. Replace sugary pies with fruit for dessert, and gear up for greens, not starchy vegetables to stay thin without stifling your holiday spirit.

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