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For more Information You Can Eat Healthy During the Holidays! Enjoy all those social get-togethers. But the more social events you go to and the more you eat well, you know what can happen! Here is some advice you might want to keep in mind. Christmas on the Spiritual Life Channel.

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

Season's Eatings

By Gailon Totheroh
CBN News Health & Medical Reporter

The magical mirth of Mr. Claus makes a merry Christmas, but that jelly belly has to go, Santa, you are setting a bad example for the kids — or maybe not.

Dietitian Phyllis Woodson said, "It goes back to a philosophy in health care called 'healthy heavy' — a person could be heavy but as long as they're not gaining more weight and if they're eating healthfully and possibly exercising, they can still reduce their risk for health problems."

While giving Kris Kringle the benefit of the doubt, dietitians like Woodson are trying to keep us all from picking up pounds as we celebrate. "It can range between two pounds and nine pounds — seven to nine pounds over extended holidays," said Woodson.

But with no hope of massive national weight loss, dietitians have adopted a more achievable goal for the winter wonderland: weight maintenance, keeping your kilograms constant.

Woodson said, "To get through the year without weight gain, to us, would be success indeed."

But how do we get to a status quo of weight?

One study showed checking weight regularly, though not obsessively, helped stave off obesity. "If you're worried about gaining more weight, it's a lot easier to lose two to four pounds than it is to lose 17 or 20 pounds," Woodson said.

At holiday meals, be a gourmet. Slowly savor small portions of foods you really like at the beginning of the meal. That can help you be satisfied more quickly and, thus, eat less. Finish a meal a little early with a bit of fruit or sweet. That can tell the brain: "stop eating."

Crazy holiday schedules can disrupt sleep. Losing just one hour a night for several days may increase appetite and reduce the body's ability to handle sugar. So, sleep — visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads really may help maintain weight.

Another key to weight maintenance is motion. A study of holiday weight gain showed those who were at least somewhat active did stay even in their weight.

"Are you active, are you exercising along with your day-to-day lifestyle at least five or 10 minutes of some kind of activity most every day would be a minimal — 30 minutes would be ideal," Woodson said.

So try a little extra walking at the mall while shopping.

And how about managing mall meal madness and reining in restaurant repast? Try to eat meals with modest calories, and don't forget the water — we drink too little water and it helps us not eat too much.

Many nutrition experts suggest colorful foods for the holidays — foods of varied colors promote health and usually have fewer calories. For example, cranberries are high in healthy antioxidants. Sorry, "colorful" does not mean M&Ms.

"How much and how often are we overdoing it — I think, is a real key," said Woodson.

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land,
All the families were feasting — exquisitely grand,
When suddenly Santa was heard to exclaim:
'If your weight you maintain, you're ahead of the game.'
So this season make sure that wisely you choose,
Get sleep and drink water, eat colorful foods.

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