Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Healthy Eating around the
Holidays
Sticking with a
balanced and low fat diet during the holidays can be a challenge. Many
holiday traditions and events involve serving foods that are high in fat
and calories. It can be hard to refuse those rich foods. But there are
ways to enjoy holiday foods and stay with a healthy diet. In general,
eating a variety of foods and limiting portion sizes can help prevent
holiday food binges. Try these additional tips during the holiday rush.
Before a party or family
event, eat a small, low calorie meal to avoid a big appetite and
overeating. When you arrive, be social first and talk to friends before
heading towards the food table. When choosing foods from a buffet, use a
small plate and don’t go back for seconds and thirds.
If bringing a dish to the party, make a
low fat version of a family favorite. This will give you at least one
item to choose along with a small portion of other foods that you would
like to try.
At catered events where the menu is
pre-selected, choose the appetizer for dinner or share a dinner with a
friend to cut down on portion sizes.
Choose a
low calorie, non-alcoholic beverage to save calories. Alcoholic
beverages can be high in calories.
Plan to shop after having a nutritious
meal at home. Bring snacks with you that are low calorie and healthy.
These may include dried fruit, carrot sticks, pretzels and popcorn
(without the butter). Holiday shopping can make anyone hungry.
For more information
about nutrition, call the Genesee County Health Department at
257-3616.
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