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5 Tips For Holiday Eating Pitfalls
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5 Tips For Navigating Holiday Eating Pitfalls

Oh eggnog, how we love you… Indulgent, creamy, green bean dishes? You’re not bad either… And oodles of cookies? What can we say! The holidays are upon us and we don’t mind admitting we’re big fans of the food. 

But (and here’s the catch), we’re not the biggest fans of feeling like we’ve over-indulged or piled on the pounds unnecessarily (we’re sure you’re not either). The good news? By adopting a few small habits, you can still enjoy all the goodness the season offers while keeping your over-indulgence in check. Below are some tips and tricks we will be trying ourselves that we wanted to share.

 

EAT BEFORE EATING

You may have heard this one before, but eating something healthy and filling before you head out for the big meal event can stop you scoffing down half the calorie-heavy hor d’oeuvres before you’ve barely said hello. You’ll also be tempted to eat less once once the main meal is served. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make to your calorie intake. 

Don’t have the time (or inclination) to eat before heading out? Just make yourself a quick cup of LonoLife bone broth and enjoy it en route. It’s only 50 calories but the 10g of protein will keep you full longer. 

 

BONE BROTH FOR BREAKFAST (+ the benefits of a shorter eating window)

You’re probably familiar with the concept of Intermittent Fasting (eating during a restricted window of time) by now, but even if you don’t follow a strict IF diet, you can benefit from trying to eat during a smaller window of time (and give your digestion a much-needed break while you’re at it.) Let’s say you commit to only eating between 12noon and 8pm every day during the holidays… You’ll be far less likely to consume the same amount of calories you otherwise might if you allowed yourself to snack at midnight and start eating again at 8am. 

One way to push out your eating window even further is to drink a cup of LonoLife bone broth in the morning. With 10g of protein, only 50 calories, and a whole lot of taste, it will satisfy your taste buds as well as give you the extra energy you need to hold out on eating until lunchtime.

 

WALK IT OFF (or squat, plank, dance it away)

Although all calories are NOT created equal, it’s still a good idea to understand how much physical activity it would take to burn off that extra serving of pumpkin pie or sugar-filled margarita. Can’t resist round two of dessert? Add an extra 20 minutes to your post-meal walk. Need to keep “taste-testing” the creamy mashed potato? Take a break to dance to your favorite song while making it. In fact, if you just add in a little extra movement each day, you’ll counter some of those extra calories. Maybe you’ll even stick with it long after the holidays are over…

 

PACK IN THE PROTEIN 

Protein keeps you full longer, and if you can start your day with some, you’ll be more likely to make good food choices as the day goes on. Protein actually reduces levels of the hunger hormone — ghrelin — while also boosting appetite-reducing hormones. It’s good to include some protein with every meal throughout the day. Try adding a scoop of LonoLife Mocha Collagen Peptides to your morning smoothie (10g of protein per serving) or snacking on a warm cup of LonoLife Grass Fed Beef Bone Broth (we even have Single Serve Cups that fit in your coffee machine — what could be easier?!) As long as you are keeping those hunger pangs at bay, you will be less likely to over indulge.

 

SWITCH UP “TRADITIONS”

There’s never been a better year to switch up your traditional holiday hot chocolate date with your old college room mate for a walk along the river. Or an extended family home-cooked dinner for a drive-in movie celebration, for that matter. While you’ll also be helping to keep the spread of Covid-19 at bay, you can create new ways to enjoy time together with friends and family that don’t always revolve around food. These don’t have to be unique to 2020 — try to find one or two new traditions that your crew will enjoy and stick with them moving forward. 

But let’s not forget why we started this post: We. Love. Food. So we thought we’d finish with a link to one of our favorite (and easiest) Holiday recipes — the Flourless Pumpkin Mug Cake. It’s gluten free, dairy free, and utterly delicious. 

Enjoy, and Happy, Healthy Holidays to you all!

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