Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Slushy snow. Freezing winds. Bundling up in multiple layers of clothes. Looks like another Kansas fall. Despite the misery of walking to class in bone-numbing temperatures, these pains do come with a silver lining: The holiday season has arrived!
With great food often the centerpiece of celebration, the biggest challenge during the holiday season is finding a balance between indulgence and health. A few simple guidelines make this easy to do.
1) Snack smart. Planning for small meals throughout the day will help ward off temptations to taste-test and will control serving sizes when actual dinner rolls around. Kick snack power up a notch by choosing “dense” foods, such as fruits and vegetables over lighter options such as chips. This way, a smaller amount of calories will be consumed, while more effectively satiating an appetite.
2) Plan in exercise. The holidays are a time to catch up with family. So why not invite Cousin Timmy or Aunt Susan on a pre-feast power walk? Better yet, get some much-needed time away from the constant family gossip and strange distant relatives by blocking out some time for a run. Just load up the iPod with holiday music and hit the pavement.
3) Savor the food. For me, there is nothing like spending hours in the kitchen, diligently preparing a feast, to stir up a big appetite. When time comes to sit down to the dinner table, my general inclination is to dive straight in and enjoy the fruits of my labor. This becomes a problem when, only five minutes in, I am already making a third run though the buffet line.
Instead, I’ve learned the best strategy is to slow down and enjoy each bite. That way my stomach has time to process whether it is full or not and I can fully experience the food.
4) Go for small desserts. Somehow, no matter how stuffed I am, the very mention of dessert gives my stomach a second wind. I eagerly load up my plate with thick slices of pie and mounds of whipped cream. A few bites in and I already realize my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Again, time has taught me that instead of taking big portions of dessert, it is best to get small samples. That way, I get to enjoy more variety, while cutting back on post-binge regrets.
5) When in doubt, bring a healthy option. One of the best ways to ensure healthy eating at holiday time is to offer to bring a nutritious side dish. Some good options include veggies with dip, fruit and yogurt sauce or pita with hummus.
The moral of the story: No holiday feast is complete without a small sample of Grandma’s butter and heavy cream laden mashed potatoes. So go ahead, indulge. Just remember, it’s all about careful selection, thorough enjoyment and knowing that leftovers often taste better than the first time around.
— McCoy is a Lincoln, Neb., sophomore in journalism
Slow Down and Chew
Eating slowly and healthy helps you during finals and the holidays.
More to eating healthy than diets, quick ...
A balanced lifestyle helps create happier individuals.
Holidays bring tiny confections to Lawrence
Several Lawrence outlets are preparing bit-sized deserts with lower calorie counts.
Foods to help you lose that butt ...
Eating healthy during school doesn’t require as much time or money as ...
Portions can reduce holiday weight gain
Instead of binge eating on Thanksgiving, divided portions can lead to less ...
Breaking up with bread and cheese
My struggle with gluten and lactose intolerance.
Step up your smoothie
Benefit from crafting your own blended beverages.
Losing weight, losing control
Among the millions who struggle with eating disorders, the majority suffer from ...
Essential life skills: nutrition on the go
In case of emergency, read quickly.
McCoy: Is honesty really the best policy?
Calorie labeling makes the bliss of a burger, the problem of obesity ...
McCoy: College students can learn to eat ...
When grocery shopping, start with fresh foods and be wary of misleading ...
McCoy: Smart choices lead to healthy life
College is a critical time to start making good health choices.
Sweet teeth
McCoy: Calorie postings may not be best ...
The days of blissful ignorance of what exactly it means to "supersize" ...
Brew: Thank goodness for football
The relationship between football and Thanksgiving is the ultimate for sports fans.
Selecting foods that are cost- and health-effective
March is Nutrition Month and this year's theme is "Eat Right with ...
Stocked kitchen
Alumni recount 9/11 events
University alumni in the New York City area remember the Sept. 11 ...
McCoy: Take advantage of local produce
With the rise of super-stores taking over America, Lawrencians shouldn't forget the ...
Spring Eats
Celebrate the return of nice weather with fresh, healthy meal ideas
Students fast for Ramadan
Ramadan is more than just fasting, it’s a celebration with friends and ...
McCoy: The reason fad diets fade
Popular weight loss plans don't always stand for effectiveness.
Eat this: Nutella Dip
Food should be fun.
Food for thought
Our famished feelings frequently influence the way we feed our faces
A turkey-less Thanksgiving?
Vegans and vegetarians get creative to enjoy a usually meat-filled holiday.
Orthorexia: When good diets go bad
Healthy eating can become an unhealthy obsession
Green my guy: The thankful eater
More Americans are turning to food banks as global food market is ...
24 hours of Lawrence
A journey through the town at all hours.
Chocolate helps reduce stress
New study shows effects of dark chocolate on highly-stressed subjects.
McCoy: Learn lessons from life's struggles
The pursuit of health became not so healthy.
Losing weight, losing control: Emily's story
Emily McCoy shares her personal struggles with an eating disorder and how ...
Saturday in the city
Saturday has a lot more to offer than one might think.
Scene and Heard: Bird Dog
New places, new faces.
Durbin: Fast food is only convenient in ...
It’s easy to go on a burger, pizza or taco run, but ...
Street musician upbeat about lifestyle
Joe Schreiner, a transient street musician, views his job as an “open ...
Restaurants spring up over summer
New restaurants for incoming freshmen, absent summer students poped up over summer ...
One night of fun, one day of ...
The inside scoop on hangovers
Sleeping through school
Siestas in sociology? Napping in neurobiology? Keeping up your energy for class ...
Frugal Food Finds
Everybody farts
From “silent but deadlys” to long sequenced medleys, your ass is full ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID