Our Tips for Making Healthy Eating Choices During the Holidays
Food and festivities seem to go hand in hand during the holidays. With parties, family gatherings, and office get-togethers, it’s easy to overindulge and possibly pack on a few extra pounds.
At MS Family Medicine Health Care PC, our entire team at our offices in Rosedale and Garden City, New York is passionate about preventive care and wellness and provides programs that help you live vibrantly. One of our signature services is nutritional counseling to help you make the best choices in order to optimize your health.
Our family medicine physician, Michele Reed, DO, FAAFP, offers a few tips to help you make healthy eating choices during the holidays.
Tip #1: Establish your nutritional goals
It’s probably not realistic to try to lose a lot of weight during the holidays, but you can set achievable goals that help you maintain and not gain during the weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. We work with you to establish your daily, weekly, and monthly goals, as well as implement an action plan to help you achieve those goals.
Tip #2: Limit your snacks
Since it’s highly likely that you’ll be indulging in richer foods during the holidays than you normally do, limiting or cutting out your normal snacks makes room in your diet for seasonal splurges during parties and celebrations.
Tip #3: Fill your plate with vegetables
A time-tested health strategy at the holidays and year-round is to load your plate with fiber-rich vegetables. You’ll have the pleasure of enjoying food and fellowship without the sugary, carb-laden treats that derail your health goals.
Tip #4: Eat before an event
As you’re heading out the door to a fancy dinner or holiday block party, grab an apple or some salted nuts to stave off extreme hunger and keep your blood sugar stable. Fruits, vegetables, or a little bit of protein can keep you from overfilling your plate.
Tip #5: Don’t drink your calories
Whether it’s a celebratory cocktail, elegant eggnog, fancy coffee drinks, wine, or beer, holiday beverages can pack a calorie, alcohol, and sugar punch. We can help you think through each of your upcoming events and come up with alternative and lighter versions of your favorite festive beverages.
Because our team specializes in concierge medicine, we customize your care to suit your health needs and goals. We work with you to build a plan that helps you enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your healthy habits.
To get started on your wellness journey, call the office closest to you or book your appointment online today.