This year, 2019, can be your healthiest holiday ever if you want them to be. But sometimes, it’s the toughest time of year to stay in the Keto Zone. Why? You may feel tempted, pressured, and just faced with eating off-plan foods. If you’ve worked hard for months, though, it’s important to end the year on a strong note. You can eat healthy at holiday parties and make these your healthiest holidays ever.
Our 4-part series is here to help. It includes:
- Part 1: Begin in the Mind: How to Slow Down, Simplify, and Get Enough Sleep During the Holidays
- Part 2: What to Eat and What to Do When/If You Fall Off-Plan
- Part 3 (this post): Eat Healthy at Holiday Parties and Restaurants
- Part 4: How to End One Year With Gratitude and Peace, and Choose Optimism for a New Year
7 Strategies to Eat Healthy at Holiday Parties and Restaurants
One of the most fun parts of the holidays is the get-togethers. The parties, outing, and time spent with people you love. But, it’s not always eating to eat healthy at holiday parties. You may feel that they are traps ready to derail all the work you’ve put forth this year.
But don’t worry. You can enjoy and thrive this year. Here are 7 strategies to eat healthy at holiday parties and restaurants this year.
1. Write Down Your Goals and Then Record What You Eat
If you want to eat healthy at holiday parties, it’s good to start with a clear goal for the evening. Then, write it down. For some reason, this is much more powerful than merely thinking about it. Writing your goals for the evening down is like making a personal contract.
Some examples may include, “Order a salad and then salmon with vegetables.” And “Don’t eat dessert and stick with tea instead of a high-carbohydrate drink.”
Next, you can really increase your willpower and accountability by keeping a food journal for the night, and throughout the Holidays.
In fact, many studies show that those who keep a food journal lose significantly more weight than those who don’t. (1).
2. Make a Plan and Stick To It
Take a few minutes to get to know the restaurant before you go. Most now have their entire menu online. You can look for yourself and find dishes with proteins and vegetables (low-carb).
If attending a party, it can be a bit tougher, but usually, there are options for these Keto Zone friendly foods:
- Vegetables such as relish plates and salads
- Protein like seafood, beef, turkey, or chicken
- Drinks such as water, coffee, or tea
And speaking of drinks, many people completely sabotage their entire plan and goals with sugary drinks. In fact, many party punches have 30+ grams of sugar and carbohydrates per serving (2). Yikes!
So again, have a plan. Opt for a “skinny” drink or mocktail, drink tea or water, or even bring your own low-carbohydrate packet such as a True Lemon Lemonade.
3. Remember, You Are in Control of What Goes Into Your Mouth
Depending on those with whom you’re eating, you may feel peer pressure or sense awkwardness if you stick to healthy eating.
But remember, you have the power to choose and are in control of what goes into your mouth.
It may be a bit awkward, but you can feel pride in making this tough decision.
If you are firm and strong about your choices, and then focus on enjoying the company (and not feeling bad about being healthy), many people won’t even notice what you’re eating. Most people are thinking about what they eat, not others.
4. Stick to the Basics
Make eating simple. You know you can eat proteins and meats, vegetables (load ’em up), and healthy fats. Focus in on these.
For example, a charcuterie board (meats and cheeses) alongside a relish plate is perfect.
Don’t think there will be one at the party?
5. If It’s a Potluck Party, Bring Something You Want to Eat like a Charcuterie Board
You can eat healthy at Holiday parties when it’s a potluck! But, you must have willpower going in.
One of the best things about a potluck is you can bring a dish you want to eat. If you’re worried there won’t be any Keto Zone main dishes or appetizers, bring one like Our Keto Zone Meatballs.
Need a dessert? Bring these Keto Zone Pecan Tartlets.
Or, want a festive drink? Others will love Keto Zone Holiday Eggnog as well.
If you’re going to a restaurant, you may not want to pull a main-dish out of your purse. But, you can be choosey. Check out our 5 Steps to Keto Zone Eating at a Restaurant.
6. Want a more Social and Less Stressful Time? Eat a Keto Zone Meal Before You Go
While this works better for most parties than restaurant dinners, you can bring the stress down by eating before you go. Then, use the time there to just nibble on a few Keto-friendly options (bring them if needed) and enjoy the company more than the food. Sometimes, this is the best way to catch up and enjoy a party!
7. Derailed? Give Yourself Grace & Get Right Back on Track
One dinner is not going to undo all your hard work on getting healthy this year. Even if you don’t eat healthy at one party, it’s not the end of the world.
The real trouble lies in not getting back on track.
If one Holiday party turns into a month of poor eating, you may regain weight or feel completely off track.
Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, get right back on track the next day with our Anti-Bloat Celery Smoothie – it’s a great tool for getting back to healthy eating the next day. Don’t delay!
Bottom Line
Holiday get-togethers should be fun, and not stressful, for healthy eaters. If you take the time to plan and go into it with some tools (like Keto Zone meals) and determinations, you can eat healthy at holiday parties this year!
