220 Wexford Road Unit 2 Brampton, ON L6Z 4N7 (905) 840-WELL
www.blaineywellness.com
December 18th, 2018
Source: drhardick.com
5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
- Grain-free Cookies
Christmas cookies were always a huge tradition in my family. They still are! However, we no longer use all-purpose, bleached white flour or even whole-wheat flour (which can present many of the same issues). We use almond flour, coconut flour, chickpea flour, and others.
Using these “flours” that come from sources of fat (nuts, beans, seeds), as opposed to sources of carbs (grains), will elevate the nutritional content of your cookie, avoid gluten its accompanying inflammation, and probably help you to stay full a lot longer.
- Sugar-free Beverages
This Christmastime, offer your guests some Egg Nog or cider made without sugar. Look at soda alternatives like festive smoothies in place of sugary sodas or diet drinks when attending or hosting holiday parties.
3. Veggies and Dip – Fill up First!
Whether you’re hosting a party or attending, know that the stomach fills up quicker with vegetables than it does with anything else. Veggies also provide a huge nutritional value and are virtually free of calories. Because your body fills up on nutrients, not calories, loading up on “double veggies” when out for dinner, or tons of raw veggies with dip at a party, is a sure-fire way to stay more full and avoid caving in to desserts and less healthy options.
4. Maximize Your Feast
With the plethora of recipes now available within Maximized Living Nutrition Plans, you should have no trouble preparing a full feast without sugar, damaged fats, additives, preservatives, or grains. Through any health food store, or directly from a farmer, you should be able to locate a free-run turkey. You can serve up decadent Chocolate Truffles or a Classic Pumpkin Pie without sugar for dessert.
- Celebrate the Day, Not the Week
Some people actually celebrate the entire month! You can avoid over-indulging by not keeping food in the house that you don’t need until your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. I’ve always said, “If it’s not in the house, you won’t starve.” Be particularly diligent about this during the Holidays!
- Create Healthy Traditions
It’s never too late to establish new traditions that foster well being in your family. A Christmas Day Run, a Thanksgiving Day game of touch football or a Boxing Day game of hockey. And last time I checked, the gym only closes 3 days in the entire month of December – not all 31.
