Tips for Holiday Dieting

Everyone knows that with the Holiday Season comes a host of cakes, pies, and other foods rich in fat, calories, and sugar. Everyone also knows that consuming large amounts of calories, fat, and sugar can contribute to a host of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Many people will feel guilty consuming large amounts of calories, fats, and sugar during the holiday season. While I don't have to worry too much about my weight and my eating habits, both of my parents suffer with diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Because of my parents' dietary needs, I have learned a lot about managing weight and dietary habits, particularly during the holiday season when there are a lot of tempting dishes and tasty treats around to eat.

One of the biggest temptation factors to staying on your diet during the holiday season is craving. During the holiday season, everyone craves the traditional holiday favorites such as candied yams, turkey, ham, stuffing, dressing, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. When my parents were first diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, their doctor told them that managing cravings is as simple as watching their portions, and when they had the occasional urge to splurge on certain foods to go ahead and splurge. The doctor said the reason he encourages splurging is that when you get an intense craving foods, you will actually end up consuming a less amount than if you fight the urge for a long period of time.

My parents' doctor also told them to take a more natural approach to preparing the traditional holiday dishes such as turkey, ham, dressing, cakes, and pies. Processed foods such as canned pumpkin and canned candied yams contain higher amounts of fructose sugar, corn, and preservatives than yams and pumpkins in their natural state. A good tool to help ensure that you use only natural ingredients is to save the insides of your Halloween pumpkin so that you can use them later in your Thanksgiving and Christmas pumpkin pies. Also use yams from the farmers market or from your garden instead of canned yams in your sweet potato soufflé or sweet potato pie.