6 Ways to limit weight gain during the holidays

These tips may help you to maintain your healthy diet and stay active through the holiday season – the time of temptation.

1.    Keep the focus on fun, not food

Most holidays are associated with certain foods. Instead of focusing only on food, throw yourself into the other rituals a holiday brings, whether it's wrapping gifts, visiting loved ones or volunteering.

2.    Modify your eating times so that they jive with your relatives

Do your in-laws' meal times conflict with yours? If yes, try compromising: Say they wake up later than you do and serve a late breakfast at 10h30. Then they skip lunch and serve Christmas 'dinner' at 15h00. To keep your blood sugar steady without overdoing it on calories, have an early-morning snack (such as a piece of whole-grain toast) before your relatives rise and shine. Their late breakfast will count as your 'real' breakfast, plus some of your lunch. Enjoy the 15h00 meal - but don't overdo it! - and have a small snack at around 20h00.

3.    Indulge in only the most special holiday treats

Skip the store-bought cookies at Christmas, but save some calories in your 'budget' to sample treats that are homemade and special to your family. Just don't completely deprive yourself on festive days as your willpower will eventually snap, and you'll end up overeating.

4.    Make the change!

Staying physically active during the holidays will promote gaining less weight over the years. A study conducted by the U.S. government found adults gained, on average, more than half a kilogram of body weight during the holidays and that they were not at all likely to shed that weight the following year. The good news is that the people who reported the most physical activity through the holiday season showed the least weight gain. Some even managed to lose weight.

5.    Stock the freezer with healthy meals

Everyone's overly busy during the holidays, and most of us want to spend our time shopping, decorating, or seeing friends and family, which leaves less time to cook healthy meals. Take defensive action several weeks ahead of time by cooking healthy meals intended specifically for the freezer. You'll be thankful later!

6.    Pour the gravy and sauces lightly

You may not be able to control what's being served at a holiday meal, but you can make the turkey, roast chicken and even mashed potatoes much healthier by foregoing the sauce or gravy or having just a small amount.

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