Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat

Banish the special occasion mentality. You’ll be less tempted to overeat during the holidays if you stop depriving yourself the rest of the year. It takes the “special occasion” mentality out of the equation.

Minimize your exposure. Wait until the last minute to buy or prepare holiday goodies. Make only what you really think you’ll need for parties and gifts. Resist the temptation to dump the leftovers in the break room at work. Not only will that decrease your own exposure, but your co-workers’ exposure too.

Remember, it’s not your food. All too often we eat whatever shows up—from cookies in the break room to samples in the grocery store. But you didn’t choose to put it there so don’t mindlessly put it in your mouth!

Save room for dessert. If you’re going to eat holiday treats and desserts (you know you are!), then adjust for it. After all, does it really make sense to have to eat all your dinner to earn the right to eat more food?

Ask, “Am I hungry?” Whenever you feel like reaching for a treat, pause to check in. Sometimes, “I want chocolate” really means, “I want a break,” “I want a reward,” or “I want to scream.” What else could you do to meet those needs better?

Try the Four Really Test. Another question to ask yourself is, “Do I really, really, really, really want it?” If the answer is yes, choose your favorite and enjoy it without distractions or guilt.

Love what you eat. If you love your favorite holiday foods that much, act like it! Enjoy your snack or meal mindfully without distractions. Savor the appearance, aromas, textures, and flavors. Put your fork down to focus on the bite in your mouth instead of immediately loading the next bite.

Just right! A couple of mindful bites of fabulous food is much better than a plate full of so-so. Since those first few bites are always the best, think before you dive in for more.

Eat fearlessly without guilt. We all know that guilt leads to more eating, not less. When you make a conscious decision to eat a treat, enjoy the experience fully, then let it go.

Don’t torture yourself with exercise. Being physically active feels good, relieves stress, and provides numerous benefits for your health. Don’t turn exercise into punishment for eating.

Pass it on. The holidays are a great time to teach your kids how to enjoy a variety of foods as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. Through observation, they learn that it is possible to balance eating for nourishment with eating for enjoyment.

Read more: How to Survive the Holidays? One Bite at a Time http://caloriecount.about.com/survive-holidays-one-bite-time-b615615#ixzz2iKHWF43V