Thanksgiving week as arrived and you are working hard to Stay Well this holiday season!!

But now the panic is setting in because either you are going to someone else’s house or you aren’t preparing all the dishes. You will be surrounded by food including lots of things you only get one time a year. What do you do? How do you make sure the food being served will help you stay well? These are simple questions to answer. You just Plan Your Holiday Eating!

How to Plan Your Holiday Eating

Don’t skip meals before the feast: Eat at your regular times or as close as possible. Have a small snack if hungry while waiting for the feast.

Scan the food: Before the plate making starts scan all the food so you can pick out your favorites and find all the fruits and vegetables.

Offer to bring a dish: Just because you were invited somewhere doesn’t mean you can’t bring something. Offer to bring your favorite healthy dish to any gathering.

Eat the holiday specials: We all have those foods we love and don’t get to enjoy other times of the year.

Cook from the heart: We all love to cook for others, but the first thing we think of is typically comfort food. Instead, cook what is good for the heart to help keep your friends and family healthy too.

Use a smaller plate: Remember to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Make another plate for later instead of overpacking your plate.

Choose your drinks wisely: Stick to calorie free drinks when possible. When drinking holiday drinks choose the low fat options, use spices for flavors instead of sweeteners, and go easy on the toppings.

Use healthier substitutions: Use herbs and spices to flavor your food. Avoid saturated fats such as butter, creams, shortenings, lards, etc.

Healthy Holiday Swaps

Resource: UF/IFAS Extension, Let’s Walk Florida: Getting You Holiday Ready

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