The holidays can be a challenging time of year for many, especially when you are watching what you eat and focusing on having balanced meals.  During this time, it can be hard to control what food you’re served, alcohol is abundant, and it can be difficult to refrain from binging when everyone else is loading up on treats.

Here are a couple of “tips” to get you through this Holiday season:

• Start the day off with a modest breakfast and eat light snacks throughout the day.
• Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime.
• If you are a guest in someone else’s home offer to bring a dish that you know fits into your meal plan,
• Don’t skip meals. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.
• If you slip up, get right back to healthy eating with your next meal. Don’t punish yourself, beat yourself or shame yourself.
• Begin the meal by eating your vegetables first! Eating fibrous vegetables can balance your blood sugar and fill you up a lot faster-leading to less snacking and mindless eating.
• Eat slowly. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to realize you’re full.
• Eat mindfully.  Be aware of what you are eating.
• Avoid or limit alcohol. If you are having alcohol have it with food.
• There are no bad foods. Select your favourite foods and enjoy them in reasonable quantities.  Savour a small serving, especially if it is something that you do not eat often.
• One piece of pie will NOT destroy your progress.  Remember that life is to be enjoyed and sticking rigidly to a meal plan at times is not a sustainable lifestyle choice.