Health and Nutrition Update: Healthy holiday eating strategies

Holiday tableThe holiday season is upon us, but that doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle should take a back seat. Real Simple shares their nine strategies to keep unhealthy eating at bay, and we added in some peanutty tips.

1. Bring your own food: Contribute a healthy dish to a gathering to ensure there’s something you can enjoy.

2. Don’t go hungry to the mall: To cut down on the lure of the food court, never go to the mall on an empty stomach.

3. Keep track of what you eat: Maintain a food diary to help you stay committed to your goals during this risky eating period.

4. Eat before going to a party: Before going out, have a healthy snack to curb your appetite.

5. Keep healthy snacks at the office: Stash healthy foods in your desk at work so you’re not as tempted by the treats piling up at the office.

6. Manage portion size: Take sensible portions so you don’t end up eating too much.*

7. Control your environment: If you plan to rely on willpower during large family dinners, sit with someone also trying to eat healthy.

8, Keep up the exercise: Squeeze in at least one or two workouts a week, no matter how busy you get.

9. Choose your indulgences: Stave off feelings of deprivation by allowing yourself a “cheat” day a week.

 

Our peanutty tips:

- Pack a snack bag of homemade trail mix to munch mid-shopping trip.
- Healthy work snacks to have on hand could be in-shell peanuts or veggies with peanut butter.
- Amp up that workout with the protein power of peanuts!
- Check out this healthy recipe for Peanut, Pear and Fig Bruschetta – it’s perfect for a buffet table.

 

*Canada's Food Guide defines a serving of peanuts as ¼ cup (60 mL) and a serving of peanut butter as 2 tbsp (30 mL).