As the holiday season is warming up, we cannot help but wonder how many pounds will it bring us this year? During this not-so-short a period, wherever we go there is an abundance of food on the table, and let us not full ourselves, most of that food is full of sugar and fat.
Having an occasional snack or two can pile up to the point when you simply cannot get into your skinny jeans. Again. And before you know it, you are consumed with post-holiday-snacking guilt. You can prevent that by switching to wise snacking. Here is how to do it.
Go Nuts About Nuts
Nuts in all their shapes and sizes are some of the healthiest snacks you can get. And you cannot argue that, in most cases, they are far tastier than most of the chips and crackers you can find on shelves. Nuts are packed with fiber and antioxidants and rich with heart-healthy fats. Still, they are calorically dense, so do not go overboard with them.
Mix up your own combination of almonds, walnuts, cashews and other nuts you love, carry them in your bag, and the next time when someone offers you a bag of chips, grab a handful of nuts instead.
Opt for Nutrient Rich Snacks
Steer away from peanut butter crackers you can get out of a vending machine, and opt for snacks that are equally tasty, but can make you feel fuller faster. For a hunger-curbing option, go for snacks which are high in protein and low in healthy fats and complex carbs. The combination of complex carbohydrates and protein can keep you feel full longer and keep your blood sugar stable.
Need Sugar? Grab a Fruit!
We all need some sweets from time to time, but why not go back to the original sweet treats? Fruit (in average serving) has about 70 calories, so if you pair it up with a nice glass of fat-free milk, you will also get extra vitamin D and calcium, as well as a protein boost.
Do not stop on one type of fruit for too long. If you opt for a different fruit each day you will get a good variety of nutrients and you will not get bored with the same old snack.
One More Sweet Attack Solution
Sometimes a fruit is not enough to solve your sweet cravings. This is not the reason to turn to chocolates loaded with artificial sweeteners and sugar. You can get your hands a bit dirty by making your own healthy energy bar. Just mix the ingredients such as dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, coconut oil, berries, chia seeds, bananas, etc. and let your creativity do the rest.
Ease Up on the Drink
It is believed that every tasty snack requires a drink to accompany it and during the holidays this is even more present. You should be aware, though, that a glass of vine contains just as many calories as a piece of chocolate and a pint of beer has about the same number of calories as a packet of crisps.
If you really need some brew to freshen you up and fill you with energy, opt for substitutes that will treat your body as a temple. A delicious sweet mojo will surely make you feel good with every sip and fight your thirst just as well as a pint of beer.
In the end, holidays are the season of enjoyment. And eating food that causes you to feel guilty surely is not much fun. Still, depriving yourself from eating or consuming tasteless food is not really a definition of holiday pleasant times. We have found the middle ground for you – use it.