However, do remember that it’s okay to treat yourself now and then, as long as it’s in moderation.

Don’t Splurge

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There’s going to be a ton of super good food during your holiday gatherings, but that doesn’t mean that you have to eat it all. Just remember to be mindful while you are eating, eat slowly, and recognize when you start to get full. When are full, or close to it, stop eating. That’s the hardest part – resisting the urge to splurge on all of the good food. If it helps, just pack a plate of leftovers for later that you can enjoy when you’re hungry again.

Bring Food

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This is where that planning comes in. Most people bring at least one dish to their holiday gatherings, so you can use that as an opportunity to bring something healthy (and delicious) that fits within your diet. You might find that others are really appreciative of the healthy choice too. If you can, bring a couple of items that you can keep going back to throughout the day.

Choose Healthier Options

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Besides brings your own food, it’s likely that there will already be some healthier options at the parties as well. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (not too much though), veggies trays, meats and cheeses, fruits, and salads are all healthier options that tend to make an appearance for large holiday meals. Eat more of the healthy options and moderate the less healthy options.

Have a Treat Day

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Maybe for the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, you need to have a treat day. If there’s a day when your family or friends are having a get-together, make that you designated treat day to allow yourself some yummy holiday indulgences. Just be sure to reign it in and stick to your diet outside of the treat days that you’ve chosen.

Drink Water

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With all of the drink options available at big gatherings, it’s always best to stick to water – especially if you want to allow yourself more indulgences where food is concerned. Mixed alcoholic drinks, eggnogs, and sparkling beverages tend to have a lot of calories and sugar, so if you choose water instead, you can eat more of the food you enjoy within your diet’s restrictions. Also, drinking plenty of water will help fill you up before you eat too much too and it helps regulate your system as you deter from your standard diet.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

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On the day of a huge feast, make sure you still have a small breakfast or morning snack. If you go to a holiday gathering hungry, you’ll likely eat a lot quicker (and thus more) than your body should have in one sitting. This will help you be more mindful and be able to recognize when you are full, rather than going into full-on binge mode.

Enjoy Yourself

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This is so important! Allow yourself to have a piece of pie or some warm buttery rolls. You should enjoy your time with family, and food can play a huge part of that! Don’t go overboard, but give yourself a little leeway during this time of year.

If you’re concerned about your health through the holidays, you can always ask your family doctor to help you come up with a game plan to make it through without giving up on your endeavors.

The post How To Eat Healthy Through the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.

1. Oatmeal

Turn instant oats into a quick, easy, and deliciously healthy breakfast by adding berries and cream to it. If you have oatmeal lovers, this is a great meal to get your kids going in the morning. You can even lay out bowls of fruit on the table for your kids to put in their oatmeal.

2. Smoothie Bowls or Yogurt Parfaits

Smoothie bowls are great, especially if you want to hide some vegetables that your child wouldn’t get otherwise. Use your favorite smoothie recipe, pour it into a bowl, and add fruit and granola to it. Likewise, for an even simpler breakfast, add fruit and granola to yogurt. Lay out all of the fix-ins and let your kids make their own healthy parfait.

3. Grilled Cheese with Veggies

Are your kids grilled cheese lovers? Use whole grain bread, a favorite cheese, and add on veggies like tomatoes, peppers, spinach, and cucumbers. This meal only takes a few minutes to make and is perfect for quick lunches or dinners.

4. Chicken Salad

Grill up some chicken, throw it in a leafy green mix, add toppings like cheese and tomatoes, cover it in your favorite dressing (or your kids’ favorite dressing). For an extra simple meal, grill up some extra chicken on a night when you have chicken planned, and save if for lunch the next day. Any salad will be a great healthy and easy meal – you can use deli meats or leftover Christmas ham and turkey for the meat too.

5. Pesto Pasta

Cook up some bowtie pasta, mix it in with pesto or Italian dressing, and lay it over a bed of leafy greens for a perfect and simple healthy meal. If you have children old enough to do so, you can even instruct them to boil the pasta and mix it with the dressing.

The post Healthy Kid-Friendly Meals to Get You Through the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.