Surviving Holiday Feasting

By: Mackenzie Schieck

So much delicious holiday food, so little room left in your waistband!

Get Moving

Another way to ward off potential holiday pounds is to up the workout routine. Here are a few ways to burn off some extra calories (in addition to your normal exercise regimen, of course):

Jump rope--it doesn't require a lot of equipment, you can do it pretty much anywhere, and just 15 minutes at a moderate pace can burn 150-200 calories. Try getting up a little early a couple times a week to fit it in.
After-dinner walk--instead of heading straight for the couch, go for a 10 to 15 minute walk after eating to aid digestion and give your metabolism a boost.
Go faster and further--add a half mile to your daily walk and do intervals of walking and running. Getting your heart rate up for even a couple of minutes here and there will help to increase your metabolism. And a longer route means burning more calories whether you run or not.

Share the Cookie Wealth

Hosting a cookie exchange party is a great way to get your fix of many different Christmas cookies, without having to bake them all--and then be tempted to eat them all!

Your Turn!

Do you have any tips for surviving holiday feasting? Drop us a line and tell us about it!

You struggle with it every year--trying to figure out a way to enjoy all the holiday goodies and still be able to fit into your clothes come January. To that end, we have some tips that can help.

Bring Something Healthy

If you are asked to bring an appetizer to a party, make something healthy so you know there will be at least one good-for-you option available. Try one of these recipes:

Eat Before You Go

If you're headed to an appetizer/cocktail party, eat a healthy meal before you go so you are less tempted to graze. Let yourself have a few appetizers, but use a small plate and chat with friends away from the food table.

Healthy Snacks—Don’t Leave Home Without Them

When you're out and about shopping and running errands, it can be tempting to grab a cookie and latte when you should be eating something balanced. So to put the "power" in power shopping:

Stay hydrated--keep a bottle of water with you at all times. Often when people think they are hungry, they are actually dehydrated.
Slice up some apples and grab and handful of raw almonds--throw each into a resealable bag and stuff them in a purse or coat pocket for a snack.
Bring along some homemade energy boosters to tide you over:

(Tip: add some sliced almonds for even more protein)

Be Choosy

There are going to be endless opportunities for eating holiday foods … at work, at parties, and when food gifts make their annual migration to your door, so pick and choose when to indulge. For example, commit to skipping the treats at work and save those calories for one of the parties you have coming up.

Holiday Spirits

It can be easy to rack up extra calories with so many holiday beverages tempting you. Let’s take a look at some drinks* side-by-side so you can determine which should be considered a splurge, versus which ones would be a better choice if you're going to be knocking back more than one.

Egg Nog (6 ounces)
Calories: 345
Total Fat: 18 grams
Carbohydrates: 42 grams
Hot Cocoa (6 ounces)
Calories: 250-350
Fat: 10-15 grams
Carbohydrates: anywhere from 30 to 80 grams
Mulled Wine (6 ounces)
Calories: 200-250
Fat: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 25-30 grams
Mulled Cider (6 ounces)
Calories: 100
Fat: less than 1 grams
Carbohydrates: 20 grams

*Note: Nutrition information has been approximated to represent what an average beverage might contain. If you need more specific information, please check ingredient labels.

Christmas Drinks

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