How to Prepare for Holiday Food at Events

I love the holidays! You can be creative with your decorations, spend time with friends and family, and who can forget those holiday parties? One of my favorite things to do is make snacks and bake delicious treats for the holidays and (of course) eat them! However, this year I have been trying to be more mindful of what I fill my plate with at events and parties. Many times guests will plan for a party with the intention of trying to save a few calories. (I confess I have done this in the past.) There’s an idea that if we eat light all day, our calories will balance out by the end of the night. I know that when I have done this, I was ravenous by the time the party started, headed straight to the snack table and filled my plate up multiple times. It might seem funny, but in reality, when people limited their calories earlier, they find they have eaten more calories at the event alone versus what they would normally eat all day. What if we could end that cycle of holiday food regret by following some tips and ideas that
​could help us enjoy the party instead of patrolling the food table?

1. Investigate: Whenever I go to an event/party, I try to find out what is being served or what dishes are being brought. If it’s a group of friends, it is easy to ask everyone what they are bringing to the event. This way you can develop your plan.

 

1. Bring a dish: If possible, bring a dish you prepared. You can make it as healthy as you would like in the comfort of your own home. Usually, I bring something I know that will provide me with nutrients and that is filling so I don’t eat as much.

 

1. Eat beforehand: Eating dinner beforehand can really help with managing calories. This is particularly helpful when I know that snacks are the only things being served. Dinner reduces my urge to overeat at the snack table because a full meal leaves me feeling satisfied.

 

1. Lighten your food intake: Instead of eating light the day of your event, consume fewer calories all week. This could be as simple as skipping your dessert or swapping a calorie-laden meal for a lighter one such as swapping meat and potatoes for soup and salad.

 

1. Exercise More: If you don’t want to cut your calories back, add 10 minutes of exercise to your routine each day for the week before the event. Running an extra 10 minutes burns about 100 calories!

 

1. Make it a treat meal: Make it a goal to treat yourself on the day of the event. If you plan to do this, aim to eat the best you can all week so you can enjoy yourself guilt-free.

 

1. Make goals: Are you fully enjoying yourself at the party or do you find yourself hovering over the food table? Make it a goal to socialize, dance or even play a game before you head to the food table. This can help you remember the real reason you are at the event, and you might even forget about the food.

These simple tips help me stay mindful for upcoming holiday and social events. Hopefully, they can help you make your holiday season more enjoyable and not full of food regrets. Happy Holidays and happy eating!

Written by Hilary Shoemake, Priority Nutrition Care Dietetic Intern

Reviewed by the Nutrition Services Team

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/why-you-cant-lose-weight-on-a-diet.html?_r=0
http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/lifestyle/holidays/a-healthy-approach-to-holiday-eating
http://healthyhappysmart.com/10-tips-for-eating-healthy-at-social-gatherings/
https://www.diabetesprevention.pitt.edu/index.php/master-healthy-eating-this-holiday-season/

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