• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

How to Avoid Those Extra Holiday Pounds

The holiday seasons are always full of family, friends, joy and let's not forget lots and lots of food. Coming together with loved ones almost always involves a hearty, home-style cooked meal this time of the season, so sticking to the usual healthy diet you've worked so hard maintaining the rest of the year can seem as hard as climbing Mount Everest right now. Everywhere you turn is temptation. Before you even think about reaching for a second helping of mash potatoes and gravy, or another slice of pie, we've got some helpful tips to ensure you keep up with your eating habits and avoid packing on some extra pounds this holiday. Just think about all the things you can do instead of giving in to food comas this holiday!
How to Avoid Those Extra Holiday Pounds
By Alexandra Phanor-Faury · Updated October 29, 2020

woman-on-scale-essence-300x425.jpg
The holiday seasons are always full of family, friends, joy and let’s not forget lots and lots of food. Coming together with loved ones almost always involves a hearty, home-style cooked meal this time of the season, so sticking to the usual healthy diet you’ve worked so hard maintaining the rest of the year can seem as hard as climbing Mount Everest.

Everywhere you turn is temptation. Before you even think about reaching for a second helping of mash potatoes and gravy, or another slice of pie, we’ve got some helpful tips to ensure you keep up with your eating habits and avoid packing on some extra pounds this holiday. Just think about all the things you can do instead of giving in to food comas this holiday!
 
The Buddy
Is your husband, boyfriend, sister or BFF worried about over-indulging this holiday? If so why not make a pact with them to eat healthy. Having a buddy with the same goals as you makes the whole thing a lot easier–especially when everyone else in the room is not thinking twice about what their eating. And if you slip up, they’re there to pick you back up and encourage you to stick to the pact.

Eat before heading to dinner
Skipping breakfast and lunch to allow for some extra-servings after dark is never a good idea. This is the easiest way to set yourself up for a binge. Remember to eat sensibly throughout the day and by the time you come face-to-face with food, you won’t be starving. Before heading out to a dinner party, eat something small like a piece of fruit or vegetables to fill you up. You should never be famished at the dinner table.

Choose Wisely
Don’t just grab whatever hors d’oeuvres, pay attention to what is being served. Perhaps there are less fattening options, so check out what’s available for the evening before munching.

Balance
It is the holidays after-all and there’s no reason why you can’t treat yourself. Just make sure you allow yourself only one treat and stick to it. If desert is your treat, than make sure your entree is healthy–and vice versa. It’s also very important to eat keep portions small.

Just Say No
Look, we know it’s hard to keep to a healthy diet when the entire family is pushing fatty foods on you. It’s not always easy to turn Grandma’s dish down, but you must remember saying no is really ok. Control your urge to give in.

Modify
If you’ve got the chance to control how much butter or sugar is used in your meal, politely inquire about modifying the ingredients.

Get Up
Keeping to your normal workout schedule during this time of the year can be hard, but the extra effort will make maintaining a healthy diet much easier. If you put in the time at the gym, chances are you won’t want to screw it up by stuffing your face later.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now