By Adam Hart
Published: Nov. 3, 2012
The other day I was sitting at my desk starting my morning like I do every morning, drinking 4 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon of seas salt, when an email popped into my inbox.
Yes, like many of you I often am overwhelmed by the amount of emails to read, but what made this email different was the subject heading.
“Adam, please help me, the holidays are coming!”
What could possibly be the content of this email was my first thought. I was intrigued enough to jump my long list of emails and went straight to this one.
As it turned out, there was a message from one of our fellow Squamish locals looking for some of my tips on how to avoid overeating during the holiday season. She had just finished a weekend of Thanksgiving dinners and felt as if she gained 10 pounds.
“Adam, what am I to do? I have no control over how much I eat. When I see it, I eat it and the holidays are the worst.”
I remember those days, spending countless hours half asleep on the sofa in a food coma. Not a fun feeling.
In order to ensure you avoid stuffing yourself into oblivion and wishing you had put down that extra piece of pie, I am happy to share with you what I shared with my new local friend in her email.
So without further adieu, here are my 5 Tips for Healthier Holiday Eating
- No Restrictions
Do not restrict yourself of what you love to eat. This will only lead to you wanting it more. Instead think of what you can add into the meal that will increase your nutrient intake and help you avoid food cravings. Sprinkling a little ground flax into your gravy or adding some pumpkin seeds to your stuffing will help nourish you and sustain you.
- Control Your Blood Sugar
A lot of the food you eat during the holidays is heavily processed and offers very little nutritional value. If you want avoid energy cashes and the weight gain that comes with it, controlling your blood sugar is key. I recommend eating a tablespoon of hemp seeds whenever you feel a little stress or low energy to help give you a boost. Even if you eat something sweet, add some hemp seeds to help stabilize your sugar and avoid your next food craving.
- See Your Dessert
A great trick I used for many years was to place my dessert beside my dinner plate while eating dinner. This acted as a reminder to not overeat. As long as I saw the dessert I was mindful to slow down my eating and ensure I had room left if I desired something sweet.
- Use a Smaller Plate
You already know the average portion size is often too large. So why do we overeat? If it is in front of your eyes, it’s hard to stop. This holiday season, try using a smaller plate and give yourself the freedom to eat the foods you love. If after you are done you are still hungry, eat a tablespoon of hemp seeds or almonds and enjoy the extra energy instead of the food coma.
- Be Mindful
Be mindful with your food. Take each bite nice and slow over the holidays. Chew your food slowly and visualize each bite nourishing your cells with life giving nutrients. This has more power then you may believe.
Start practicing using these tips now and enjoy the holidays with a little extra room to spare.
Do you have a question? Email me at adam@poweroffood.com to get your answers. Each week I will highlight one with this column.
Adam Hart is a Living Food Champion, Chef, Author and Profession Speaker. For more info visit www.PowerofFood.com
