Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

You may think it’s impossible to get through the holidays without gaining weight. In fact, the average American gains 7 to 10 pounds over the holidays. For me, the solution is maintaining my nutritional cleansing program throughout the holidays. Besides that, here are a few simple tips for surviving the holidays and keeping your waistline in check.

Tip 1: The temptations all start at Halloween. If you can’t resist that piece of chocolate choose dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains less sugar than milk chocolate and is rich in antioxidants that support healthy circulation and blood sugar. Some research suggests that dark chocolate may even reduce cravings for fatty and sugary foods.

Tip 2: This is the time of year for parties and most of us like to indulge with an alcoholic beverage or two. If you can’t resist, choose light beer or wine over cocktails because most cocktails contain high-sugar mixes. The best choice is red wine because it delivers a dose of the antioxidant resveratrol which has anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. If you prefer hard alcohol have vodka with soda water instead of tonic which contains 23 grams of sugar. Remember, calories from alcohol tend to be stored in the abdomen. Aim to consume no more than 15 grams of sugar a day.

Tip 3: Now, what party is complete without some snacks? First of all, don’t go to the party hungry. By eating some dietary protein beforehand it will help keep you satisfied for hours. At the party, the key is to make healthy choices. Some suggestions are whole grain crackers with cheese such as Brie, Gouda or Gorgonzola. You can also enjoy some olives and a handful of mixed nuts which contain good fats.

Five Foods to Avoid Over the Holidays:

  1. Cranberry sauce. One serving has 21 grams of sugar. Limit to just 1 teaspoon.
  2. Dried fruits. Apricots have 22 grams of sugar. Instead, snack on sliced cheese or string cheese.
  3. Diet sodas. Diet sodas contain chemicals that are bad for your brain and nervous system. Give sparkling water with lemon a try.
  4. Eggnog. It contains 21 grams of sugar. Enjoy a peppermint tea instead.
  5. Margarine. It’s is filled with hydrogenated oils which advance cellular aging. Opt for butter instead.

Submitted By: Isagenix Independent Associate  Tamara Westberg http://www.cleansebenefits.com