Healthy Eating/Healthy Holidays
Helpful Hints
Reigning in your eating over the holidays should not have to automatically be the next New Year’s resolution. Here are some helpful hints, courtesy of the Healthy Nurse, Healthy NJ team and Prevention magazine (Harrar, 2013).
- Eat slowly. Be present with your food and give your satiety center time to get the signal to your brain.
- Drink a glass of water before you start to eat to aid digestion and help with the feeling of fullness.
- Mints during the day offer a nice diversion from eating and freshen your mouth. Mint also has been known to help with alertness. If you have the option, brush your teeth.
- Keep a 200-400 calorie snack on hand. Measure out the ¼ cup of nuts or ½ cup of raisins, for instance, and bag them for later.
- Be mindful of your starches. Pastas, potatoes, and desserts should be cut in half so you have plenty of room for fresh fruits and veges. One half of a favorite dessert or cookie can be just the right size and allow you to enjoy a taste of the season.
- Don’t be so fast to clean up the dirty dishes. A clean place is difficult to ignore for too long when there is still plenty left out to eat.
Cheers,
Mary Ellen Levine, Munira Wells and the Healthy Nurse Healthy New Jersey Team
Reference
Harrar, S. (2013, November 20). 16 Simple ways to eat less. Prevention. Retrieved July 8, 2018 from https://www.prevention.com/life/g20429591/how-to-eat-less-and-be-mindful-about-meals/?slide=1
