You’ve made it this far.
It’s the end of the year, and you’ve worked hard, month after month to lose weight, be healthy with Keto Zone eating, and get fit.
And now, the Holidays are staring you in the face.
Many people go into November and December with a bit of trepidation. After all these months of hard work and new healthy habits, they can envision it all unraveling in the course of the final two.
Or maybe, they feel like they’ll have to skip all the fun of Holiday feasts and foods to stay on track.
Never fear. You can finish strong this year, and enjoy Holiday meals. In fact, with a little creativity and preparation, you can stay in the Keto Zone, and feel nourished and energized. Here’s how.
5 No-Fail Tips for Healthy, Lean, Keto Zone Holidays
1. Simplify Your Holiday Outlook and Meal Planning.
First of all, while the “Holiday Season” now seems to be about 60 days long, the Holidays are really only 2-3 days. Don’t let the fear of 60 days of overeating scare you.
Rather, make it your goal to treat the non-Holiday days as an opportunity to eat normally: nutritiously Keto Zone.
Then, you’ll only have to plan outside this box for the few actual Holiday days. By realizing that it’s not eating warfare for months, you can vastly reduce any anxiety the extra eating may bring.
Once the actual Holiday days arrive, go into the meals with a plan. Know the menu ahead of time, and offer to bring a dish or two if it’s lacking. Bring the proteins and delicious vegetable dishes you’ve mastered during the year to any Holiday meal, office party or luncheon.
2. Focus on the Greens, Proteins, and Fats.
Speaking of vegetables, load ‘em up! Look for the greens, proteins such as turkeys and seafood, and delicious fats and sauces at Holiday Meals. Bitter greens, kale, broccoli dishes, salads, fermented vegetables like Keto Zone sauerkraut and more can be a great addition to the feast. If you’ve decided to bring a vegetable dish, use a fun, unique, delicious vegetable recipe to keep it lively and not drab.
Enjoy delicious keto zone foods rather than focusing on what you’re missing.
3. Bake a Keto Zone Dessert.
With the availability of Keto Zone healthy sweeteners, low carb flours, and more, there are many healthy low-carb desserts you can bake while staying on track.
For example, try our Keto Zone pumpkin pie, cranberry tart, or pumpkin cashew cookies.
4. Eat Slowly.
At a time of year when we all rush, rush, rush, choose to be mindful and slow when you eat.
Day to day, take time to talk to your family or reflect on your day during meals rather than numbly eating in front of the television.
At Holiday meals, focus on gratitude for the people around you or the blessings in your life. The Holidays are about so much more than food. By taking the time to focus on the true meaning, and sharing it with loved ones, you’ll automatically slow down, enjoy the moments, and engage with others.
How can you slower?
Try putting your fork down in between bites instead of shoveling food.
Polish off a full glass of water before digging in for seconds.
Allow your body time to digest, and then determine if you are still hungry for more.
As an added bonus, you’ll improve your health by eating slowly. Research has shown that people automatically eat smaller portions when they eat slow (1). Slow-eating-training even helps teens become more healthful eaters, with better long-term health and manners outcomes (2).
Further, research shows that fast eaters gain more weight over time, suffer more digestive issues, and report less satisfaction with food (3). This is no way to spend the Holiday Season.
This year, leave the table without feeling like a stuffed turkey. Eat slowly with no regrets or bloat.
5. Lastly, Get Outside and Be Active.
Even in cold weather, it feels great to get outside with family and friends on a Holiday. Take a walk together. If it’s nice enough, add to the festivities with a lawn game or snowball fight. Enjoy the crisp air.
Outdoor activity, even when brief, promotes improved moods and psychological well-being (4). Share this opportunity with your loved ones.
Take-Home Message:
This year, you can truly enjoy the Holidays, stay healthy, and finish the year stronger than ever. Simplify the season, form a Keto Zone eating plan for Holidays, slow down, engage with others, and get outside. You’ll be a great example to others, and feel nourished and energized.