Celebration Dining
You have worked hard all year on your healthy eating plan, watching the foods you eat and only eating what you body needs, not giving into what you mind wants - and then comes the ‘end of year’ parties and celebrations. What to do?
With a little foresight and consideration you can celebrate without guilt.
Drinks – a glass or two of water BEFORE your party will help and always keep a glass of water nearby. Your body will thank you for the additional hydration this will give to balance out any of the alcoholic drinks you may consume as well as help to fill you up without any of the negative nutritional influence of sugars and/or alcohol that are present in the commonly available beverages served. Consider adding ice (not for the temperature reducing qualities) to ‘thin’ the drink and follow it up with a glass of water if possible.
It is also a good idea to drink a glass or two of water when you get home as this will help flush out some of the body’s toxins resulting from any indulgences of the party.
Foods - Unless you have a strong sense of quantity, it is very easy to overeat when presented with a lavish spread of foods at a buffet. Being the perfect host you will want all your guests to think that you have been lavish in your provision of foods, but to all of this there is a cost that has to be paid and I do not mean financially. If your sense of quantity is not strong, then a few tips that may help are:
- Choose a chair as far from the buffet table as possible
- One plate at a time
- On your first trip to the buffet table, select a large plate and add lots of self control - then fill the remaining space with raw foods. There after always choose the smallest available plate.
- On your second trip take a bowl of (non-cream) soup if available.
- Desserts – try to skip this section. By the end of the meal you really do not need the sugar hit that you will get from this.
For a ‘sit down’ meal NEVER order a second helping regardless of how good it tastes or how much your host insists. One serving is polite, two is gluttony. For ‘family style’ meals where all the food is placed in the centre of the table the same rules apply as for buffets.
Remember always that your body has the same nutritional requirements yesterday as it did today. If you consume or plan to consume a level of food or drinks that is in excess of your normal levels then make the adjustments accordingly. Consume less on the day before or the day after.
Exercise - This does not have to be a five mile hike or a session at the gym. It can be as simple as a walk around the block, cleaning the house or a round of golf. Whatever it is, make sure it is regular and that you continue whatever exercise program you are on over this period - it is more important now than at any other time of the year. It can assist in balancing out any of the excesses in which you may have indulged yourself. If these indulgences are too great, simply increase the intensity or duration of the activity. If you are normally a ‘couch potato’, consider taking a flight of stairs instead of the elevator or use the on/off button on the TV instead of the remote control. Any exercise is better than none.