Health Services
Self Care

Holiday Eating

Eating is a holiday tradition in many cultures. The fact is that most Americans gain a few pounds during the holidays. There are basically two types of holiday eaters. Some overeat when they are happy, such as attending a holiday party, and some overeat when they are depressed or over stressed. Most people know what type they are.

It is not necessary, however, to avoid holiday festivities completely in an attempt to loose or maintain weight. Health educators report that there are many ways to guide behavior so everyone can fully enjoy the holiday season.

The first is to exercise. Often, students' busy holiday schedules bump them off their exercise routines. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can help relieve stress as well as help burn up extra calories from holiday eating.

It is not a good idea to arrive at a party famished because higher calorie foods may be too tempting to resist. Also, there are plenty of lowfat and low calorie substitutes that are amazingly tasty. Magazines are filled with reduced calorie and reduced fat holiday recipes. These can provide a real alternative to high fat holiday dishes. Even with the typical holiday table spread, some food choices are better than others. The chart below gives some ideas.

Mini Holiday Survival Food Guide
Instead of...	Choose...
pate, sausage, cold cuts, cheese, gravy	lean sliced meats (turkey, roast beef), meat juice with fat removed
chips, nuts, sour cream, cream cheese dips	flat breads, pretzels, popcorn, fresh veggies with fat free dressings
croissants, danish, puffed pastries, donuts, fudge, chocolates, pies	pumpernickel, bagels, sourdough bread, angel food cake, or non-fat pastries and cookies, hard candies

Health educators remind people, however, that although food can be a big part of the season, it is not its focus. The important thing to remember is balance. It's O.K. to eat too much once in a while. Just relax and enjoy the holidays. The point is to remember what the season is all about.

More Information/Questions
For more information, Messiah Students may contact the Health Center at 691-6035 .