Eating Through the Holidays:
Maintaining Your Weight Loss

Whether you’re trying to keep the weight off or lose additional pounds, holidays and special events can be real stumbling blocks. Resisting temptation and maintaining your healthy eating habits when faced with elaborate buffets and fancy holiday sweets can be quite difficult, no matter how dedicated you may be to your regimen.

Learning how to handle a potential eating frenzy is the key to happy and guilt-free holidays and enjoyable special events.

Holiday Dinners

Overeating at family dinners is a common occurrence, but with the proper planning, you can avoid excessive calorie intake.  One of the best ways to do this is to volunteer to host the dinner yourself.  That allows you to control exactly what’s served and you’ll be able to plan the menu so that you can serve foods that fit your diet needs.

Main courses like turkey and ham are naturally low in fat.  It’s the side dishes that cause trouble.  Search for recipes that make use of favorite holiday foods but with a healthy twist.  Find a low-fat way to prepare the sweet potatoes (no marshmallows!), serve plenty of vegetables, and consider offering desserts other than pie, like biscotti with a scoop of low-fat ice cream.

If you’re unable to host the dinner yourself, call the hostess and ask if you can bring something to the dinner.  You’ll be assured that there are at least one or two items that will suit your diet.  If she declines the offer, you’ll need to do your best to make wise choices among the dishes that are served and remember to limit your portions.  You can also eat before you arrive at your host’s home, so you won’t be too hungry when you sit down at the table.

Buffets

The buffet-style feast is often the most difficult for those on a weight loss program or maintenance regimen.  It’s easy to choose the wrong foods and get carried away with portions when there’s a wealth of food in front of you waiting to be eaten.

The mistake that most dieters make is in hanging around the buffet table during the party.  This can be a dangerous habit.  Remember, parties are all about socializing, not eating.  Use these special events to get to know someone new or to renew relationships with those you haven’t seen recently.

Choose a seat or place to stand that’s located out of sight of the buffet table and resist the temptation to return to the table to try the foods you couldn’t fit on your plate the first time around.  When dessert arrives, remain at your seat.

As with formal sit-down dinners, contact your host ahead of time and offer to bring your favorite recipe to her party.

When It’s All Over…

Remember, when the festivities are complete, you’ll want to know that you’ve done your best to maintain your diet.  Plan ahead to insure your success and even if you made a few bad choices, don’t give up.

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