Saint Barnarbas Medical Center Offers Holiday Health Tips

The holidays are here and often food is the centerpiece of festivities and celebrations, but the holiday season doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds or add inches to your waist.

The Weight Loss Institute of New Jersey wants you to celebrate and enjoy your favorite foods; the key is moderation and balance.  Here are some tips:

Be realistic – trying to lose weight during the holidays may be a “self-defeating” goal—a better goal would be to maintain weight.

Get moving! Find activities the whole family can do such as walking, biking, hiking or bowling.

Take the edge off your hunger before a party – going to a party feeling hungry can sabotage the strongest willpower, so eat a small, low-fat snack before you head out door.

Make just one trip to the party buffet – choose only the food you REALLY want- keep portions small and use a small plate.

Meet and Greet – conversation is calorie-free—get a beverage and settle into the festivities while catching up with friends.

If you are at a sit-down dinner, cut your first helping in half– then you can enjoy seconds (and keep the hostess/host happy) and the total food that you eat will be the same as a normal portion size.

Choose lower-calorie party foods – try raw vegetables with a small amount of dip or boiled shrimp or scallops with cocktail sauce or lemon. You can even bring a healthy dish (raw vegetables with dip, fruit platter) with you.

Have fun and remember: Regardless of what’s on your plate, it is up to you to take charge of how much you eat!

The Weight Loss Institute of New Jersey at Saint Barnarbas Medical Center specializes in helping people lose those unwanted pounds. For more information or to sign up for a free seminar, call 973-322-7433 or http://www.barnabashealthcalendar.org/Events/SaintBarnabasEvents.aspx