5 Ways to Eat Healthfully at Your Holiday Party…and Still Have Fun!

Holiday party season is upon us. The holidays are a time to get together with friends, co-workers and families and enjoy good food and good conversation.

But pair multiple opportunities to overindulge at parties with shorter daylight hours (making it harder to get in exercise) and we can find ourselves packing on a few extra pounds in no time. Keep reading for 5 ways to eat healthfully at your holiday party…and still have fun!A few pounds may not seem like that big of a deal. I mean, you will make a New Year’s resolution to lose it again, right? However, studies show that gaining and losing 5-10 pounds over and over can effect your long-term metabolism, making it tougher to keep weigh off down the road.

That means those yo-yo holiday pounds may set you up for weight gain in the future. How do you avoid putting on those few extra holiday pounds? Here are 5 healthful ways to enjoy a Holiday party without feeling deprived.

5 Ways to Eat Healthfully at Your Holiday Party…and Still Have Fun!

1. Eat something before you go

Before you head to a party with that amazing buffet spread, eat a bowl of soup, a handful of nuts or a few slices of smoked salmon on a salad. That way you won’t be starving and as prone to overeat once you see all the delicious food sitting on the table. You will also have eaten something healthy so you can indulge in that amazing-looking sweet, knowing you already ate some veggies and protein.

2. Choose the smallest plate

If there are dinner plates and salad plates available, choose the salad plate. You won’t be able to fill up your plate with as much food as you would with a large plate.

3. Choose raw veggies, fresh fruit, nuts, meats and cheeses before a couple of fun treats.

Fill half to three-quarters of your plate with raw veggies, fresh fruits, nuts, meats and cheeses before you head to the desserts. Fill up on healthy foods first. Then allow yourself to choose a dessert or two that look amazing.

Don’t be afraid to leave something on your plate if it doesn’t taste as good as it looks. Why waste calories on a treat that doesn’t really taste all that great? Only eat those treats that truly taste amazing, and eat them guilt-free, knowing you ate healthy foods too.

4. Don’t station yourself next to the food table.

Ever been involved in a great conversation while standing next to the buffet table, only to realize you ate 5 handful of chips without even tasting them? (Or is that just me?) Once you fill your plate, find a place away from the food table to mingle and talk. It will prevent you from mindlessly eating food while socializing.

5. Drink a big glass of water between every alcoholic drink

Drinking water between alcoholic beverages gives your body a chance to digest and filter the alcohol, as well as all the sweets you are eating throughout the night. Bonus: water fills you up, so you won’t be as inclined to eat as much either. Drinking water also helps prevent that dreaded hang-over the next day.

Want to know which drinks to choose and which foods help prevent hang-overs? Stay tuned for our next healthy holidays post: 5 Natural Ways to Avoid a Hang-Over the Day After a Holiday Party!

What tips have you found helpful for making healthy choices at a holiday party?