Look, let’s get one thing out of the way. I am not ready to call Mid-October “The Holiday Season” either. I’m not ready to walk into a Target and be surrounded by songs about Christmas piping through the speakers and Christmas decorations everywhere I look. It’s happening though, whether we are ready or not, and one very important thing to take note of: we’ve already started eating like it’s the holidays.
This makes sense, our ancestors didn’t get to watch the snowfall from their hot yoga class, or head to work from their nice warmed home, to their nice warmed car, to their nice warmed office. These are (in the grand scheme of things) fairly new to us. So when the temperature starts to dip our normal human cravings for fat, sugars, and carbohydrates goes from bad to downright ravenous!
Take a deep breath…take one more…and put the candy corn DOWN. Despite your pesky desire to pack on weight this time of year, you can maintain a workout schedule, and eat the amazing bounty of winter fruits and vegetables available to you at your local market.
Craving something sweet? Oranges are about to be the best they are all year, and the vitamin C boost is going to keep your immune system running strong during cold and flu season!
Wanting all the pumpkin spice lattes? Find better ways to use this awesome squash! I recommend a pumpkin curry served over brown rice! Savory, sweet, and a little bit of spice this is a great way to pack in the pumpkin flavor.
Cruciferous vegetables like Kale, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, and broccoli that are available year round lend themselves perfectly to your holiday feasts! Season them and roast them up! Served with your turkey this is a high protein, high fiber, nutrient rich meal that can’t be beat! While everyone else is jumpstarting their heart after eating their weight in gravy, you’ll be ready to go caroling!
When you’re at holiday parties (of which you will probably be at no fewer than 5) instead of starving yourself until you can’t take it anymore and gorge on holiday cookies and cream cheese pumpkin roll, breeze in there like you own the place and move right to the almost untouched fruit and vegetable plate. Fill up on this stuff first and after a few servings where you’ve curbed the hunger pangs from going straight from work to a party then you can reward yourself with some tasty carby treats. It’s OK to try everything, just remember hors d’oeuvre’s aren’t meals! Your body needs real food if you’re hungry – not sugary salty carbs!
This year, forget your New Years weight loss resolution; keep your body in shape right now! By keeping real whole foods at your disposal, you’ll be able to have a taste of all the holiday treats without going overboard. So, it may not even be Halloween yet, but….HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY!!!