Easter is right around the corner which means you might be surrounded by the temptation of candy dishes filled with jelly beans, baskets full of neon colored Peeps, and chocolate rabbits. You may also be sitting down with family members to enjoy a special dinner. So how can you enjoy a happy and healthy Easter?
The key to healthy eating is moderation. I am not going to tell you to torture yourself by staring at the Easter egg on your counter top until someone eats it; however, eating 20 eggs until your stomach gets sick is not the way to go either. Depriving yourself of what you truly want will often cause you to overeat, so allow yourself a few treats (within reason) and don’t feel guilty about it! A professor once told me that you need to be good with your diet 80% of the time and allow 20% for those luxury foods, which is a good rule to follow.
Here are a few tips to help you get through holiday gatherings without over indulging:
- Never go to an event hungry. It makes you graze on the finger foods more.
- If you are bringing a dish, make something healthy that you can feel guilt-free about enjoying.
- Watch your portion sizes at the main meal time. Use your hand as a measuring cup.
- One thumb = 1 serving of cheese
- Open palm = 1 serving of meat
- Closed fist = 1 serving of fruit or vegetables
- Cupped hand = 1 serving of grains
- Fill up on veggies. Make half the plate green with salad and vegetables
- Enjoy bread and candy last. When dessert comes, try to choose a small portion. Dessert is OK on special occasions, but not everyday is a special occasion.
- Be mindful of your alcohol consumption. Alcohol has calories, too.
- Include activity somewhere in your day, when you know you’ll be indulging later. Maybe go for a walk in the morning.
- Socialize before thinking about the food. Remember, the holidays are for enjoying and spending time with friends and family.
Guest Author: Alex Bell, Drexel University Dietetic Intern
