How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

¡Pernil, arroz con gandules, potato salad, baked zitti, pasteles,  y la lista continua sin fin! Let’s not forget turkey, stuffing, lasagnaand although we have consumed every last bit of our holiday meals there is always room for dessert! We are all aware that the holidays mean that gaining a few pounds is inevitable and some of us have tried a few tricks like eating smaller portions or skipping dessert. But what happens when Abuela’s pernil is served and she insists on giving you a second serving? Saying no to Abuela’s pernil, which she prepared with so much love and excitement, is not an option. Abuela will definitely not understand when you inform her that this year you are skipping dessert. You simply must try her secret recipe tres leches that the entire family is raving about. In addition to our own family festivities, we visit our extended family and the family of our significant others. Sometimes we find ourselves eating full meals in a short period of time. We must not look at food as ourenemy; some of the best memories during the holiday season is being among loved ones and enjoying delectable food. Here are some ideas that will help you balance the consumption of your favorite holiday meals.

Limit your tasting while preparing your holiday meal, especially if you are doing all the cooking.  Keep the number of times you taste to pre and post seasoning.

If you are making more than one stop on a specific day, schedule to arrive early for lunch and plan to arrive late fordinner. This will allow you to space out the day better and help you have more control of what you are eating.

Invite family members or friends to take a stroll around the neighborhood and use it as a time to enjoy the décor from the other houses. This will also help burn some calories.

Drink Water! Water is a great substitute for higher calorie beverages.

Offer to bring a vegetable tray, a salad, or a low calorie dessert.

Indulge more in conversation than in food. Have the older members of the family tell stories of when they were young. This can become a new family tradition and help keep focus away from the food.

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After a full day of indulging on great holiday food plan to make a date with a friend the following morning at the gym. This will allow you to reconnect with an old friend and exercise at the same time.

Experts agree that portion control is the key to maintaining weight during the holidays. However we are from a culture where the holidays are filled with an array of foods and desserts and sometimes saying “No, Gracias” is not an option. We must be proactive and take the steps necessary to create some balancein our food intake during the holidays.

For more Holidays Tips Check Out www.modernlatina.com

 

Mari Twins xoxo