Strategies for dealing with holiday snacking

This time of year usually means easy access to lots of unhealthy sweet treats, which leads to inevitable, unwanted weight gain. My dietician friend says that most Americans gain 10-15 lbs during the holidays! Yikes! So as the holiday season approaches, it’s time to develop some strategies around holiday snacking.

The workplace always seems to have an abundance of unhealthy food during the holidays. Add in holiday parties and happy hours and you could easily spend all day munching on delicious but unhealthy treats. Therefore, to prevent the unwanted weight gain, you need to make smart choices about which treats to eat and which to avoid. The most important thing to remember is that this is a time to celebrate with friends and family so completely abstaining from holiday deserts just isn’t very practical or fun. Therefore, aim to make every indulgence count!

First have lots of healthy options on hand. Keep a stash of fruit, veggies and humus, unsalted nuts, or other healthy snack readily available at work. Before you indulge in a holiday cookie or piece of pie, eat one of the healthy snacks that you have stashed. Once you have satiated your hunger, you likely won’t even want that sugary treat. Additionally, eat a healthy snack or even a full meal before you head out to your holiday party. This way you won’t be starving when faced with an abundance of unhealthy casseroles and desserts. Because let’s face it, we make poor choices when we are hungry.

Second, drink lots of water. The majority of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Additionally, thirst can feel an awful lot like hunger. So when those mid-afternoon hunger pangs start, drink a glass of water. After about 10 minutes, reevaluate your hunger. With your thirst quenched, you may no longer feel the need to eat something. But, if you are still hungry, eat one of those healthy snacks you prepared.

Lastly, vow to only eat treats and deserts that were hand made. These sweets have been prepared with love, so have a small piece and truly savor it. When you have lots of options, pick one or two that look the most visually appealing and take a small piece of each. Notice how lovely it looks and smells and then eat slowly so that you enjoy every bite. If you limit yourself to occasionally eating a small piece of something handmade and truly delicious, then you have no need to feel guilty! And don’t forget to thank the chef! Happy indulging!