Dietitian’s Healthy Holiday Tips

Another holiday season is here and I want you to welcome the new year feeling your BEST… NOT being pulled into another diet! These healthy holiday tips are realistic, doable, and can help promote your healthy habits consistently, which is most important for your overall health.

The holidays are here and it’s time to spread some cheer! But if you’ve been dieting for what feels like your entire life, the holiday season can feel overwhelming. Sure, you may be able to handle Thanksgiving or Christmas Day on their own, but the season from Halloween through New Years is long.

For most people this includes family gatherings, holiday parties, cookie exchanges, kid parties, extra office treats and so much more. The holidays aren’t just one day anymore.

But it’s possible for you to partake in the festivities AND feel your best.

As a registered dietitian, my goal is for you to FEEL your best this holiday season, while enjoying the joyous, fun-filled festivities.

The LAST thing I want you to feel on New Year’s Eve is a pull to start another diet on January 1st. We know diets don’t work, so focusing on these healthy holiday tips can actually help you resist the urge to diet come the new year.

These healthy holiday tips are doable, realistic, and make sure you have plenty of TIME to partake in the holiday fun!

Here are my top 5 dietitian-approved Healthy Holiday Tips…

1 . Focus on ADDITION > SUBTRACTION

While this is my food philosophy year-round, I think it’s most important during the holiday season.

The essence of this tip is to focus on taking what you would usually eat and then think about what you can ADD to enhance your nutrition to feel your best.

Want a cookie? What can you ADD to help yourself FEEL better? (Hint: probably some protein – I cover this in my FREE Hack Your Snack Guide!)

Love a carb-filled Christmas morning brunch? Make sure there’s some produce on your plate to boost your fiber.

You don’t have to cut out any of your holiday favorites, but instead you can enhance your nutrition by thinking about what to add.

2 . Plan for the mundane days

You probably spend so much time planning for the holiday days, but it’s just as important to think about what you’re eating for breakfast and lunch on Christmas Eve day.

Make a rough meal plan to help yourself out and stock your fridge, pantry and freezer with your family’s staples. If you want help making balanced meals, check out ebook Thrive in 5, which contains 50 recipes that can be made in 20 minutes or less with just 5 ingredients each.

3 . Aim to include 2 out of 3 major macronutrients to boost your energy for the holidays.

There’s a reason we have 3 major macronutrients. They’re all needed to help your body function optimally and help you feel your best. But it can be overwhelming when time is limited or you’re at a party to have a perfectly balanced plate.

Instead, aim to include just 2 out of the 3 major macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fats).

Here are some examples of how to do this:

• If you’re at a party, choose cheese for fat and shrimp cocktail for protein. BOOM.
• Christmas Eve dinner at your in-laws? Add fish and pasta for protein and carbs (versus just the pasta alone)
• Hot cocoa with your kids? Make it with milk to have some protein and fat along with the sugar (a carb)

A basic understanding of nutrition can make this so much easier. (That’s what Thrive in 5 can help with!)

4. Keep 1 meal per day as similar as possible to your “usual”

Even better if you can do this with 2 out of 3 meals! The holidays are hectic so keeping 1 or 2 meals the same as your usual can help.

For example, if you usually start your morning with an oatmeal bowl, keep doing that throughout the holiday season.

Know the lunch that works for you? Don’t skip it before a big holiday dinner.

Your body thrives on consistency, so do your best to help yourself out!

5 . Remember the holidays aren’t JUST about the food!

While food is a HUGE part of holiday gatherings and traditions, the holidays are about so much more than just food. If the food piece feels overwhelming to you, focus on other F’s: family, friends, fun, and festivities!

Want more support this season and into the new year? Book a free discovery call to chat about working together!

XO