Healthy Eating During the Holidays

As Thanksgiving looms upon us, I find I need to pump myself up for it and be ready for some major food temptation.

I've always had a problem with overeating and going beyond that point of fullness. Holidays would always stress me out as I know I would put on 5 pounds just from looking sideways at the pumpkin pie.

Here are some tips I've learned over the past year to deal with the holiday temptations:

• Avoid the bread basket, you will be full enough after eating your meal. You don't need the excess carbs.
• Eat the white meat of the turkey and peel off the skin. White meat has less fat and fewer calories.
• When self serving, portion your plate like this; half of your plate should be vegetables, and the remaining 2 quarters should be for the grains/carbs and protein.
• Bring the dessert! There are plenty of low fat dessert options that you can bring (or make) for any holiday. If you provide the delicious dessert you will know in advance the calories you will be consuming and this can make your portion controlling easier.
• Be careful with your drinks as they are loaded with empty calories. Treat yourself to a glass of wine, but share the rest of the bottle with friends and family.
• Lastly take the focus off of food. Thanksgiving is supposed to be about spending time with loved ones, and this doesn't mean surrounding yourselves around the appetizer table. Pull out the boardgames for some old fashioned fun. Time will fly and you'll hardly realize you're not munching.

This weekend I'll be attending one dinner with family and then making dinner for just hubby and I the following day. I will post details on my "Thanksgiving Dinner for Two" next week. We are going to kick off our long weekend with a old fashioned hayride in a haunted forest, can't wait!

What tips do you have for keeping slim over the holidays?