Take Control this Holiday Season

‘Tis the season to overindulge! Let’s break the cycle this year. Enjoying the holidays doesn’t mean all rules go out the window for the month of December. One day of indulgence is fine, just not a whole month. Here are some tips to help you avoid the common holiday weight gain:

  1. Keep holiday candy and cookies in a cupboard or pantry. Out of site, out of mind (hopefully). Leaving goodies on the counter makes it tempting to eat a little every time you walk by, before you know it the bowl is empty.
  2. Focus on protein foods. Protein will help you feel full and satisfied longer.
  3. Don’t save up your calories by skipping meals. This never works. Eat a high protein, lower carb breakfast and lunch before the holiday party. This will help you from overindulging.
  4. Share. Give away or share holiday treats given to you. Also, give away leftovers to family and friends or freeze them for a later time.
  5. Bring a high protein, healthy appetizer to the party. This way you know you have at least one healthy alternative to all the high calorie, high carb foods. Here are some appetizer ideas to bring to the party:
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Shrimp Cocktail
  • Mini Meatballs with Marinara
  • Hummus with vegetables
  • Prosciutto wrapped asparagus or cantaloupe
  • Dips made with plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise
  • Crispy Chickpeas (recipe below)

Crispy Chickpeas

Rinse and drain 2 cans of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans). Spread on a sheet pan lined with paper towels. Dry well, remove towels and let sit out for about an hour to thoroughly dry. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat evenly with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and seasonings of choice (ex: garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, curry powder, rosemary). Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn oven off and leave chickpeas in oven for an hour to get crispy. Store in airtight container for 3-4 days. 4 servings. 236 calories, 9g protein, 20g carbs, 8g fiber.

Wishing a happy and healthy holiday season to all!

Instead of one day, let today be your day!

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