Eat Healthy and Be Merry with nutritional consultant Rose Reisman

Eat healthy and be merry — it sounds like a contradiction, but it’s easier than you think. In a recent webinar, registered nutritional consultant Rose Reisman gave her advice on how to stay on track with your health goals this holiday season while still enjoying the things you love.

“You really can do both,” Rose said. “You can still have tradition while keeping healthy, even as you enjoy indulgences.”

“Age is just a number,” according to Rose, and the way we eat can affect how young we look and feel. That’s why it’s important to have good eating habits, especially in our senior years. Some of her holiday eating tips include:

Avoid processed meats, such as bacon and salami, which are high in fats and salt.
Have a smaller piece of dessert or a lower-sugar alternative, such as fruit and angel cake.
If you feel low on willpower, have a lower-sugar cake, such as angel cake.
Carbs are fantastic for you — if you eat the right ones. Avoid simple white-flour carbs and instead, look for whole grains.
Nuts are one of the healthiest foods, but they can be calorie-dense. Enjoy a handful of nuts as a snack for a healthy option.
Start your meal with a stock-or-tomato-based homemade soup. These will help satiate your appetite, are low calorie, and are usually filled with vegetables. Avoid creamy soups or canned soups, as they can be high in fats and salt.
At a buffet or large feast, start with healthy choices to fill your plate and then add those little indulgences you like. Filling up on healthy options first will keep you from overdoing it on the less-healthy options.
Plan ahead for big events. Eat healthy and exercise for a day or two before the event. On the day, eat lighter, healthier options and do light exercise.
Don’t skip meals — it makes you hangry. That’s hungry and angry at once. This will cause you to eat more when you do finally eat.
Have a small, healthy meal 2 – 3 hours before you are going to have a feast. This will keep your energy up and damper your appetite.
Eat slowly. It takes at least 20 minutes for you to feel like you’re full.
Sometimes dessert can’t be skipped. If you know it’s one of your favourite, avoid unhealthy foods during the meal as a compromise.