Have your summer vacations, barbecues and weekends derailed your usual healthy eating? Lots of us have been enjoying all the hot dogs, chips and brownies we want, even if we don’t typically eat them, because as registered dietitian Katie Dodd points out, many people are “social eaters.” We eat to celebrate holidays, events and gatherings with loved ones and indulge in delicious foods while socializing and not paying attention to hunger cues.
It’s fun while it’s happening, but what about when the celebrations are over and it’s time to return to our regular, mostly healthy eating habits? Nutrition experts say these tips make it easy to get back on track after a weekend - or many of them - of indulgence.
- Don’t delay hopping back on the healthy living bandwagon- It’s easy to think you already “blew it” after days of eating and drinking whatever you want, but instead of putting off the return to healthy living, get started ASAP. You might not feel motivated to workout and make nutritious food choices, but registered dietitian Kristin Gillespie says the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll feel better.
- Log what you eat- A good old-fashioned food journal or an app will help you keep track of what you’re eating and that can help you get back on track with healthy eating habits.
- Drink lots of water- Eating lots of salt can result in fluid retention and bloating and upping your water intake can help flush the excess salt. And it’ll help you rehydrate after a couple hard seltzers, too.
- Load up on fruits and veggies- After hitting the packaged snacks and comfort foods hard, Amy Gorin, a plant-based registered dietitian, advises resetting with fresh produce. Cut up fruits and vegetables and have them ready to grab in the fridge and keep a supply in your fruit basket on the counter so you see them first when you want a snack. And throw in some nuts and cheese for a healthy snack that’ll keep you fuller for longer.
Source:Fox News