How to Curb Your Holiday Cravings

The holidays are just around the corner and many of us are not looking forward to the extra weight we tend to put on this time of year. This year can be different thanks to some easy tips from our dieting specialists. You can enjoy the holiday season without putting on the extra weight and you don’t even have to deprive yourself from all the holiday treats. Indulge, Celebrate, and Be Merry, this year is about making changes and sticking to them!

The holiday season means many parties so to avoid overeating and snacking on junk foods, follow this simple tip: Don't go to a party hungry! When we're hungry, we tend to eat faster and more than we usually do. Some party menus may leave us without healthy options so it's a good idea to eat a nutritious meal beforehand to avoid over stuffing.

Make conscious choices when deciding what to eat at holiday parties. Try to limit high fat items, such as fried foods, cream-based soups, cheese-filled casseroles, pies, processed meats such as salami and sausages, and pastries. It's not just about what you eat but also how much you eat. So, this season, it's all about portion control. You have been good all year and definitely deserve to indulge in a fabulous drink and scrumptious dessert without guilt, but always watch your portion! Focus on small portions. This way you can sample different foods, while keeping in mind moderation is always the key.

If you are the host of the party and preparing the dishes, try these lower-fat recipe substitution ideas. If your recipe calls for one egg, use two egg whites instead. If you need to add sour cream, substitute with low fat plain yogurt. If your recipe needs milk, that's an easy one- use skim or 1% milk instead. And if you want to serve ice cream for dessert, use frozen yogurt instead! I know what you're thinking...what about the egg nog? Egg nog is a traditional holiday drink and you shouldn't have to go without it. Egg nog is usually made with egg yolk and thick cream but there are many low-fat and fat-free variations on the market - even soy nog!

Have a safe and happy holiday season and visit Dieting Library for more holiday dieting tips, coming soon!