MS LifeLines (R) - wants you to Eat Healthy this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is almost here; it's a time to pause and reflect on good times and positive experiences. But it can also be a stressful time, leaving you feeling overscheduled, overwhelmed and tempted to overindulge. We've got some ideas that may help, starting with some tips to help you eat healthy during the holidays.

What's Considered a Healthy Diet?

A healthy diet is one that is low in fat and includes plenty of grains, fruit and vegetables, as well as some high protein foods like meat or dairy. When possible, it's helpful to balance a healthy diet with physical activity. While there is no special diet for MS, try to maintain a balanced diet and avoid fad diets which typically give results that do not last over time.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any nutrition or exercise program.

Don't Give in to Temptation

Eating nutritiously during the holidays can be extra challenging. The following tips may help.

Understand your portions Portion sizes have dramatically increased over the years, so it's helpful to understand what a healthy portion looks like. It may help to make mental comparisons for certain foods—for instance, a healthy portion of lean meat should be roughly the same size as a deck of cards. Control your portions It takes 20 minutes before you start feeling full so try taking smaller portions and eating slower. You may find that by giving your body a chance to register food intake, less food on your plate may actually be enough! Plan ahead Eating a healthy snack before going to a party can help curb your appetite and limit indulging in more high-calorie foods. Don't skip meals to "make up" for extra calories eaten at parties. It can lead to overeating at other meals and deprives your body of the fuel it requires to function. Make low-fat substitutes like fresh fruit or yogurt instead of ice cream; turkey instead of ham for your holiday meal; precut veggies or pretzels instead of high fat hors d'oeuvres.

Get helpful hints on reducing holiday stress

Sincerely,

Your friends at MS LifeLines

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