For many Filipinos, the holiday season is incomplete without food. Food always takes center stage during family reunions, corporate Christmas parties, and the midnight spreads of Noche Buena and Media Noche. Families gather to celebrate, and tables are overflowing with lechon, pancit, buko pandan, hamon, and kakanin. Many people lay aside dieting to indulge in old favorites.
With a deeply ingrained culture of abundance, health officials continue to encourage Filipinos to practice moderation and choose healthier meals and beverages throughout the holidays to avoid post-holiday problems including high blood pressure, indigestion, and raised blood sugar.
While it is acceptable to pamper oneself, Susan Bowerman, Senior Director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training Chair at Herbalife Dietic Advisory Board and Outer Nutrition Advisory Board, highlights the need of striking balance in order to avoid excessive weight gain and stress in the new year.
Bowerman shares five ways to satisfy cravings while staying healthy this holiday season:
Snacking is encouraged
Snacking, done correctly, can serve various objectives. A nutritious, balanced snack keeps you refreshed between meals and helps control hunger, allowing you to eat less during holiday feasts.
Stressful situations around the holidays can lead to mindless munching, so having a light snack before parties might be beneficial. High-protein alternatives include a handful of unsalted nuts or a protein bar, while crunchy foods like almonds, soy nuts, or baby carrots can help ease stress.
Stay hydrated
Water is needed for nutrient absorption, digestion, and waste elimination from the body. Staying hydrated also helps the immune system function properly.
Other fluids can add to your regular consumption. Coffee and tea qualify, but avoid drinks heavy in sugar, fat, or calories. If coffee interferes with your sleep, limit your intake to the morning or switch to decaf or herbal tea for more restful sleep.
Prioritize protein and veggies
Holiday foods may be heavy in calories but low in key nutrients. One method to eat healthier is to include protein and veggies at every meal while limiting refined carbs and added fats.
Protein-rich meals, such as meat, poultry, eggs, and legumes, are satisfying and high in essential nutrients including B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, zinc, magnesium. Adding protein while eliminating empty calories provides your body with significant nutritional benefits.
To increase vegetable intake, skip starchy sides and eat more vegetables. The added fiber helps you stay full while lowering your overall calorie intake.
Be Selective with Sweets
Sweets and pastries are unavoidable during the holidays, but it's vital to be judicious. Cravings are common when energy levels drop or during stressful times, but many desserts are rich in calories and can derail efforts to maintain a healthy weight.
You don't have to remove them totally. Limit yourself to tiny quantities of holiday-themed delicacies and avoid daily sweets that are less important.
Consider healthier dessert recipes for your family. Cooking or baking with fruit imparts natural sweetness and texture. Try broiling grapefruit or orange halves, roasting peaches or pineapple, or preparing sliced apples or plums with cinnamon or nutmeg. Peel and freeze bananas to make an ice cream-like dessert.
Walk it off
Walking not only helps digestion, but it is also an easy method to get outside and relax your thoughts. The holiday season provides stunning landscape, so take time after meals to go for a walk and explore your surroundings. Regular physical activity offers various advantages, including enhanced joint mobility, increased energy, and a general sense of well-being.
Practicing these practices over the holidays will help you stay healthy and energized. The longer you stick to healthy habits now, the easier it will be to continue them in the coming year.
About Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a premier health and wellness company, community and platform that has been changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in more than 90 markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle to live their best life.
