Eat Low to High – Eat till Satisfied NOT Stuffed

It’s time to discuss how to eat at a buffet FULL of treats!  We’ve discussed trying to come prepared and trying to not arrive starving but it’s still nice to sample some of the food.  I mean, it is Christmas!!  So where to start?  My suggestions is to work yourself from low calorie to high calorie.  Start with the fresh veggies and some salad.  These are lower calorie choices and high in nutrient content.  Fill most of your plate with greens and veggies.  They give you a BIG bang for your buck! 

Second move into some of the protein choices like deviled eggs and roasted meats. (That is only if you are a meat eater, of course!) Unless the hosts are vegan or include vegetarian choices, this may be limited but go for some grains like a rice or quinoa dish if offered.  Finally, leave what room you have left for the starches like potato offerings. 

If at the end of the meal you have saved a little room, THAT’S when you dig into the treats.  Make sure you share your treats.  If you have a date at the party and there are a few things you want to try, make a deal to each take one or two bites of a dessert and then you can try a few.  There’s not really a need to take 2, 3 or even 4 treats for yourself because yesterday we learned that we can make a deal to get the recipe and have some treats throughout the year and not just during the holidays, right?

Another good tip is to eat until you are satisfied and NOT stuffed.  If you follow the eat low to high rule then by the time you get to the decadent high calorie treats, you’ll just have enough room to taste before you listen to your body and realize that you are going to be stuffed if you keep eating.  Don’t forget to keep tabs on your drinks too as they count!!  (See how this is all building on each other!)  A normal stomach holds one liter of liquids or two cups of food.  Over stuffing your stomach is detrimental to proper digestion.  If you consistently overeat and stretch out your stomach over the holidays it can become “the norm” and you will end up needing to eat more food to feel full after the holidays.  That can set us up for a tough start to the new year!    

I know with all these tips and tricks and the dedication I see from each of my readers following this blog daily YOU are going to be set up to start your new year ready to kick some butt in 2018!  I want to know what you think of the low to high idea.  Do you think that will be an effective party trick?  Do you like the idea of sharing dessert to get to sample more treats?  Did you know that your stomach can only hold 2 cups of food and digest effectively? Come back tomorrow to find out more!!  Thanks for reading!!