Do you ever get to the end of your meal and you’re so full you need to unbutton your pants?!?!

Yeah.  I think we’ve all been there.  And during the holidays it’s so easy to overindulge with the abundant delicious food!  So, how can you enjoy the food without gaining a ton of weight and feeling miserable?

Eat until you’re about 80% full.  Not totally full, but full enough to feel satisfied and satiated.

Now, this may take a little practice to figure out where 80% full is for you.  It’s different for everybody.  So, I recommend taking some time to practice before the holiday celebrations arrive.  That way when the food is abundant you’ll be ready to choose to stop eating before you’re miserably full.

I might also recommend taking at least 20 minutes to eat each meal.  This is because it takes your brain 20 minutes before it registers that you are full.  So, if you’re eating your meal in less time than that, then it’s likely you are overeating.

So, the bottom line is:  slow down and be mindful of how full you actually are.

Stay tuned for more healthy holiday ideas next week!

If you have questions or just want to chat about healthy holiday swaps please email carrie@bristolymca.net.