Enjoy, don’t overdo, holiday food

By Kyle Schmidt

Americans will have plenty of food in front of them during the closing weeks of the year but moderation is key in a season often known for excess.

Registered dietitian Jessica Smith advises pacing yourself when tempted with all the food on offer during the holidays.

“Taking time to appreciate your food, making sure you taste all the bites,” Smith said. “A lot of times it is easy to just shove all the food in whereas if you are taking the time to really taste your food, feed yourself for the nourishment not just the enjoyment of food, that can also be really helpful.”

Lingering leftovers from Thanksgiving can be dangerous for some. Smith suggests holding enough back for one serving and putting the rest away or sending guests home with food.

“Making sure you are not overdoing it but doing enough you get to enjoy the holidays,” Smith said.

The sweets, the turkey and any holiday food tradition can be difficult to cut out completely. For those who end up splurging, Smith offers tips to get back on track.

“Going back to having that mindfulness and being aware of those body cues we typically try to listen to and that intuitive eating,” Smith said. “If you are not eating mindfully, it is easy to open that bag of chips and eat the whole bag.”

Portioning out desired foods can help as well. And Smith said staying hydrated will help eliminate the snack and treat cravings as being thirsty can activate hunger cues.

Despite food being a popular item during the holiday season, other family activities can take its place in setting a festive mood.

“Whether that’s getting in the yard and throwing the football around or just taking that time to maybe … do an arts and crafts,” Smith said. “It doesn’t have to be a food focus even though that’s our favorite part.”