By Jasmine Anderson, Contributing author, lifestyle and beauty blogger
Holidays are the perfect time of the year to relax and enjoy the hustle and bustle. However, they also carry a lot of challenges, especially for those who are committed to a healthy diet. Temptations are high during the holidays with so many tasty foods right there before your eyes.
Nonetheless, even beside the hearty treats, you can enjoy the holidays without feeling guilty for indulging yourself. It all comes down to adhering to clean eating which will cut down unnecessary calories and eliminate too much sugar and fat from your diet.
Clean Eating During the Holidays
Small plates for smaller portions
Overeating is the common moment during the holidays. While it is expected, the consequences are not only bad for the figure. It can cause digestive problems, so you might spend the holiday season with a heartburn and discomfort.
This is why downsizing the portions may be just the right solution if you can’t say no to all the gorgeous food out there. Use a small plate to minimize the calories and control the portion size, even during the buffet. Restrain yourself from eating all the time and choose a perfect time to have a meal, since that will stop you from eating too much, as well.
Don’t skip meals
The big holiday feast is ahead, but that doesn’t mean you should skip meals. This is actually the perfect way to overeat and completely ruin your clean eating habit. Eat small meals and snacks just like you normally would if you didn’t have a whole holiday buffet waiting for you.
If you eat regularly, your blood sugar levels will be in check and you won’t feel tired and stressed. And what’s more important, you won’t come hungry to the party and eat more than you usually would.
Vegetables are your friends
It may be all about pot roast and gingerbread cookies, but vegetables also have their place in the holiday season. Just toss them in the oven with some olive oil, salt and you will have a nice healthy dinner on your plate. However, even raw vegetables can be a hit at parties or serve as a perfect snack.
Cut some red peppers, carrots, and celery and serve them on the large platter with homemade sauces. This will be perfect to feel in the gap between lunch and dinner, and the guests will appreciate a healthy dish as well.
Don’t forget to hydrate
During holidays, people drink an assortment of beverages and so it’s easy to forget those 8 glasses of water recommended by a health specialist. In order to keep your hydration in check, always have a bottle of water with you in your purse. Also, installing an app to remind you to drink water is not a bad idea, too.
With all the eggnog and alcohol, it’s important to maintain your water balance in the body to avoid a hangover in the morning.
Cook the food yourself
The certain way to make sure that the food for the holidays is healthy is if you cook it yourself. This is a great choice for potluck parties although you can always gift the hosts with your homemade recipes.
With the ever-present promotion of healthy lifestyle, the whole wheat prices make the clean eating affordable and easier. Opt for cookies that will be tasty and healthy at the same time with whole wheat flour, one of the sugar substitutes and fruits. This way, you will be able to eat some sweets for the holiday and still not feel guilty for it.
Pay attention to side dishes
Vegetable side dishes not only help your clean eating plan but also make the meals more tasty and flavored. They don’t take a lot of time to prepare and will be a wonderful addition to meat and fish, as well as the standalone dishes for vegans. Keep it simple with roasting the vegetables until they develop that crispy and caramelized top.
Instead of standard mashed potatoes with butter and cream, add fresh herbs and batata. Not only will this side dish taste better, but the color will match the holidays as well.
All in all
Clean eating won’t ruin your holiday fun but will make you feel even more comfortable and relaxed. This is because instead of worrying about the consequences, you won’t have any to stress about after all.
Jasmine Anderson is a lifestyle and beauty blogger based in Australia.She is an incurable daydreamer, who finds inspiration in little, everyday moments. Spending time at her cozy home office with her two cats, writing her blog, is her favorite thing in the world.
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