Christmas dinner doesn't' have to be an all out food fest and it shouldn't be used as an excuse to ditch your nutrition plan. You can totally survive the day without blowing your healthy eating habits. You can stay on track. These tips are inspired by Autumn Calabrese, Beachbody trainer and creator of the 21 Day fix and Hammer and Chisel.
Does this sound Familiar???
You go into the day, already having your workout completed. You are totally on board with eating healthy today! Then, you get to the Christmas dinner table, or snack area...and you find the fruits and veggies... awesome you think, "I've got this!" you say to yourself. You load your dinner plate with just a little ham, some veggies, a little salad, and one small scoop of cranberries and a 1/2 bun with grandmas strawberry jam on it. You skip the potatoes and gravy as well as the mayo based salads. "I've done well" you say to yourself.Dessert comes, one slice of pie with cool-whip, oh....what about a 1/2 slice of pecan? Ice cream...yeah, its Christmas! Maybe a glass of wine and a whole bunch of regret later, you realize you can no longer breathe in your skinny jeans. You've over done it! And, don't go thinking that just becuase you are in Yoga pants that you aren't bloated.
Can your relate?
According to Autumn, we typically .....
- We fill our plates with too much protein, tons of carbs and lots of oil/fat. Thinking in 21 Day Fix container terms, there is an excess of YELLOW, BLUE, ORANGE and TEASPOONS.
- We eat mindlessly (also endlessly).
- We think nothing of going back for seconds. Sometimes thirds.
- We don’t pay attention to portion sizes.
Sherry, what do we need to do???
Create a simple strategy for your Christmas day eating. This is especially needed if YOU are not in control of the menu and what will/wont be on the table. Use the following tips. No, I mean it...USE the following tips (ALL OF THEM) and you will come out of Christmas still fitting into your jeans.
Create a simple strategy for your Christmas day eating. This is especially needed if YOU are not in control of the menu and what will/wont be on the table. Use the following tips. No, I mean it...USE the following tips (ALL OF THEM) and you will come out of Christmas still fitting into your jeans.
1. Know and follow your portion sizes. -
If you follow the 21 Day Fix eating plan, be familiar with your container sizes. If you don’t use them on a regular basis, practice using them before you go out. If you are comfortable, bring them along to help serve yourself at the meal.
If you follow the 21 Day Fix eating plan, be familiar with your container sizes. If you don’t use them on a regular basis, practice using them before you go out. If you are comfortable, bring them along to help serve yourself at the meal.
2. Take veggies first. Skip any salads that are noodle or mayo or cream based.
Taking veggies first fills up your plate(you should aim for 1/2 your plate in veggies) quicker and leaves LESS room on it for higher calorie items
Taking veggies first fills up your plate(you should aim for 1/2 your plate in veggies) quicker and leaves LESS room on it for higher calorie items
3. Save your Carbs
A few days before the meal, skip the carbs and fruit servings. Purposefully 1 or 2 days prior to the meal, forego any starchy carbs or fruits. This will give you an extra calorie budget for that piece of pie or small scoop of potatoes and gravy. Also, go light on carbs the day after. For you Fixers...this is the Yellow and Purple portions.
4. Make smart food swaps.
Autumn says she likes cranberry sauce on her turkey, and can do without the gravy. If you love stuffing, maybe you don’t need mashed potatoes too.
5. Choose the foods you LOVE, but don't get all the time
If you don't really love mashed potatoes, then don't take them. But if you LOVE pumpkin pie eat that instead, because its something you don't get all the time.
6. Desserts. Have 1/2 or 1/3rd portions.
You can have a small piece of Mom's pumpkin pie and a small scoop of ice cream. This way, you can actually sample 2 or 3 desserts with out creating an issue. Also, your taste buds typically aren't excited after the 3rd bite - so use it to your advantage by having a small portion.
7. Lighten it up.
Ask if you can bring your favorite dish, then google or pinterest it to see how you can lighten it up so its healthier. Another friend of mine, skips breakfast so that she'll have room for a larger lunch and a couple snacks.
8. Take a walk.
After the meal, go on a walk with the family (or the few that will join you). This gets you out of the house and helps you digest a few calories. Also, the fresh air and sunshine will do your soul good.
9. Count your portions.
By tracking your portions (but don't be a stickler to the actual number). You will automatically eat less than if you didn't track. Its sorta a mental thing, but when you can see what you've already eaten...it activates the frontal lobe of your brain ,which is where you do your decision making.
Autumn says she likes cranberry sauce on her turkey, and can do without the gravy. If you love stuffing, maybe you don’t need mashed potatoes too.
5. Choose the foods you LOVE, but don't get all the time
If you don't really love mashed potatoes, then don't take them. But if you LOVE pumpkin pie eat that instead, because its something you don't get all the time.
6. Desserts. Have 1/2 or 1/3rd portions.
You can have a small piece of Mom's pumpkin pie and a small scoop of ice cream. This way, you can actually sample 2 or 3 desserts with out creating an issue. Also, your taste buds typically aren't excited after the 3rd bite - so use it to your advantage by having a small portion.
7. Lighten it up.
Ask if you can bring your favorite dish, then google or pinterest it to see how you can lighten it up so its healthier. Another friend of mine, skips breakfast so that she'll have room for a larger lunch and a couple snacks.
8. Take a walk.
After the meal, go on a walk with the family (or the few that will join you). This gets you out of the house and helps you digest a few calories. Also, the fresh air and sunshine will do your soul good.
9. Count your portions.
By tracking your portions (but don't be a stickler to the actual number). You will automatically eat less than if you didn't track. Its sorta a mental thing, but when you can see what you've already eaten...it activates the frontal lobe of your brain ,which is where you do your decision making.
9. Make sure to exercise!
Try something fun like walking a Thanksgiving 5k with your family, take a hike after dinner, or just pop in your favorite workout DVD. The 21 Day Fix anyone?
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