Six Ways to Eat Healthy During the Holidays

It's not easy to eat healthy during the holidays¹. But with a little planning and forethought, the traditionally fattening foods and eating-centered celebrations of the holiday season won't wreck your diet. Consider these six ways to eat healthy during the holidays.

1. Ditch Full-Fat Dairy

   Consuming a lot of regular dairy products ups your fat- and calorie-intake exponentially. Consider healthier substitutions² in recipes whenever possible, such as replacing sour cream³ with plain yogurt⁴ (which can save over 150 calories per half-cup). Serving a glass of fat-free milk⁵ with Santa's cookies instead of whole milk⁶ will save the big guy about 70 calories.
   

2. Turkey is Tops

   The good news about healthy eating during the holidays? Turkey is one of the leanest types of meat. Stick to broiling, stewing, or baking as preparation methods⁸; cook using a rack so the fat will drip away from the meat. (Frying turkeys may be popular these days, but doing so turns that healthy turkey into a dieting don't.) As a rule of thumb, try to always eat white meat poultry, which is leaner than dark meat (such as choose chicken breast slices over a drumstick). When selecting other types of meats, buy leaner cuts whenever possible.  

3. Have a Game Plan

   Avoid the high-calorie items typically offered at holiday get-togethers, such as high-fat appetizers, processed meats (such as cocktail sausages), fried foods, cream-based soups, heavy casseroles, and desserts. Plan to fill up on lighter fare, such as lean meat, grains¹⁰, fruit, and veggies. Prepare and bring a healthy dish so you, and other weight-conscious guests, will have an alternative if the host's offerings aren't so diet-friendly.

4. Don't Go Hungry

   Arriving at a party¹² with a growling tummy is a sure-fire way to make the wrong choices and overeat¹³ without even realizing it. Never "save up" your calories¹⁴ during the day by not eating; it will only backfire and cause you to eat more in the end. Have a smart snack¹⁵, such as a small apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter, before you leave the house. You'll still be hungry enough to enjoy the holiday foods, but not so hungry that you overdo it.

5. Fill Up with Fiber

   Not only are vegetables naturally low-fat, low-cal and chock-full of nutrients, they help you feel satisfied longer than other types of foods. The fiber¹⁷ will cause your stomach to feel fuller, and you will have a greater sense of satiety which will help you stay on track. Eating raw veggies as snacks, appetizers, in salads, and side dishes is a great way to keep your appetite in check¹⁸

    6. Forget the D-Word

      The holiday season is the most difficult time try to diet²⁰. Attempting to follow a

      strict eating plan when you're not truly committed can induce you to binge²¹ on the

      foods you have eliminated, causing you to gain weight. Focus on maintaining your

      weight over the holidays by controlling portions²², making healthier choices, and

      getting regular physical activity²³. You can get back on track with weight loss when

      the diet danger zones of November and December have passed.

By Jennifer R. Scott, About.com Guide -Updated November 05, 2010