Helpful Ways to Control Calories During the Holidays

How much weight do people really gain during the holidays? If you’ve struggled with your weight during this time of year, it can seem like a lot. But it’s not as much as you might think.

In a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that the average adult gains about 1 to 3 pounds from late November to early January. But before you give yourself permission to indulge in every holiday delight, there’s something else you need to now. Researchers also found that most people don’t lose the weight they gain during the holidays. And that adds up if you gain just a few pounds a year.

So how do you handle the holidays where biggie-sized desserts, parties, and plates of cookies and sweet treats seem to be everywhere? Check out these helpful ways to control calories during the holidays:

Count Calories

There’s a reason programs like Weight Watchers and others get results. Keeping track of what you eat forces you to think more about your diet and make smarter choices. The Weight Watchers PointsPlus® program can help you, and all of our meals include the points value per serving. You can also use a food journal or mobile app to keep track of what you eat and stick to a daily calorie limit to help control your weight.

Choose, But Choose Wisely

Remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Indy (played by Harrison Ford), hunts down the Holy Grail. It’s guarded by The Black Knight and surrounded by hundreds of other goblets. The knight warns Indy, “Choose, but choose wisely.”

And that’s exactly what you should do at every holiday party. Take a look at the food being served. Look over the menu before you order the special or what have what everybody else is ordering. Think about how well you’ve eaten throughout the day. And then make your choice on what to order, what to dish up on your plate, what to avoid.

Pass on Less Than Healthy Foods

Your mom might have told you to eat everything on your plate, but that’s just not necessary. Especially if you’re trying to manage your weight. Look for ways to avoid eating empty calories by avoiding things like sugar-sweetened drinks, appetizers, and mammoth-sized desserts big enough for two. Instead of mindlessly eating, be selective about your food choices, and you’ll have a better handle on portion control.

Use A Smaller Plate

It’s an eating strategy recommended by the National Institutes of Health. It’s easy to dish up more than you need to eat at a party. And restaurants are notorious for serving super-sized portions equal to two meals. At a party or buffet, dish up using a salad plate, and then take your time to chew your food and enjoy it. When you go out to eat, order from the senior menu or kids menu. Split your entrée with a friend, or put half of it in a to-go box before you start eating.

Pay Attention to Cravings

If you get a craving to devour a whole plate of cookies at a holiday party, or munch your way through the dessert table, you’re not alone. It happens. But you don’t have to give in to the cravings. Acknowledge it. Then do something to distract yourself from thinking about that delectable dessert for just a few minutes, like talk to a friend, admire the holiday decorations, or step outside for some fresh air. You’ll often find that a few minutes of this kind of self-discipline will help the craving pass.

Your goal during the holidays: Maintain, don’t gain weight. If you want to eat healthy, keep your weight in check, and start the new year out right, we can help. Check out our complete selection of Portion Control Meals.