{My Holiday Baking Menu}

Happy Wednesday Everyone!! Sorry I have been a little MIA lately! It is that busy time of year and life has been...well...busy!

I have been eating "my usual" foods, indulging in a little too much dark chocolate and wrapping gifts like a crazy person. Tis the season?

I have been busy planning on what I will be making for my holiday baking/get-togethers and I wanted to share with you guys what I have planned. You can always check out my favorite holiday recipes and definitely add a few of those to your list. I am switching it up this year. I plan on adding in some of my tried and loved recipes from the past and some that I am excited to try.

The majority of my family get-togethers are pot-lucks. We do a lot of finger foods and a lot of dessert! Those are my favorites anyway!

So these are the chocolate goodies that I am making this year:

• Coconut Snow Balls by For the family

• Peanut Butter Balls (my husbands must-have) by Mom Fabulous

• Healthy "Oreo" Balls By Whole Foods New Body 

• Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds by Sally's Baking Addiction

CHOCOLATE OVERLOAD! Well....ya'll know I like chocolate by now...right?

Now for some appetizers...

• Baked Brie with Figs, walnuts and pistachios by the Mediterranean Dish

• Grape Salad (with all green grapes to look festive} by Whole Foods New Body

 

• Grinch Kabobs by Raining Hot Coupons

• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip by Gimme Some Oven

• Mini Caprese Bites and Fruit and Cheese Christmas Tree  By Kevin and Amanda

Now for Christmas Morning:

• Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole by Whole Foods New Body

• Immaculate Baking Cinnamon Rolls (So easy and always a hit!)

So tell me.....

What is on your Christmas Menu???

{Tips for Preventing Weight Gain during the Holiday Season}

It is almost Thanksgiving!! Woo hoo!! Then we all will blink and Christmas will be here. I absolutely love this time of year. I love the decorations, the get-togethers with family and of course....the food. Who doesn't....right??

Let me first just say..... I follow the 90/10 rule and holidays always fall in my 10% wiggle room but I am just like everyone else. I don't want to get on the scales and gain all of the weight I worked so hard to get off!! I have a few tips that I use just to keep a check on myself because it is very easy to go binge crazy shoving your face full of bread and chocolate. Or....is that just me?



Tip #1: Always....Always eat something at home before you attend any Holiday party or festivity

I have said it before and I will say it again....don't go anywhere hungry! If you leave your house hungry...chances of you eating something not so great or eating WAY TOO MUCH are high. I always bring a bottle of water with me anywhere I go so I can drink up on the way to the party/event. That is a great way to fill you up and beat that thirst that can sometimes show itself as hunger. I also usually eat an apple/almonds or a yogurt before I walk out the door. You can ask my husband....I don't care if I am running late or not....I always eat something or grab an apple for the road. I get hungry every few hours and I want to be prepared!! Something like a Larabar is really handy to eat on the way. If you aren't starving by the time you arrive...you are less likely to binge.

Tip #2: Bring a healthy appetizer/dish/dessert with you!

Healthier Pecan Pie

I love bringing fruit or veggie trays to any get-together. Wanna know why?? Because I like fruits and veggies and I know that I will have some healthy stuff to snack on instead of chips and dip! Bring a healthy dessert but don't tell people that it is healthy! Just shock them all with a delicious treat that you won't feel guilty about later. It is always nice to know that wherever you are going....you will have healthier options to eat that you know you will enjoy.


Tip ##: Choose your faves

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Ya'll my entire family is full of ridiculously good cooks. I am not kidding. It is a blessing and a curse! I know the handful of dishes that are a must. I do not deprive myself from the foods that I love and that have great tradition/memories wrapped up in them. My grandma makes THA BEST giblet gravy. Am I going  to eat some....YES!!! Life is not about depriving yourself to be skinny! Life is about enjoying times with friends and family so please....eat some of your faves... just watch the portion size. I don't douse my whole plate in gravy....I use a little so that I can enjoy it and move on. I just won't put things on my plate that aren't either good for me....or one of my absolute faves!

Tip #4: Eat until you are full

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Try to be mindful of when you have had enough. Sometimes you get busy chatting and mingling and you aren't paying attention to your stomach. Just try to have a seat, take your time, enjoy and then put your plate away when you are done! There will be dessert and we all know that we can't skip that part so just try to enjoy the company and stay mindful of when you are full.

Tip #5: Enjoy

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These holidays are some of the best days of the year....don't spend it worrying about your weight. Regardless of how much you eat or what you eat....it will be fine! Don't let it discourage you from your goals. If you wake up the next day and feel guilty about the food you enjoyed...STOP! No guilt! Just get motivated to start the next day doing your best!

Want more tips? Check out my Top 5 Tips for Staying Slim through the Holidays!

I honestly hope you all have such a fabulous Thanksgiving surrounded by all of the people you are most thankful for. :)

{5 Tips for Staying Slim through the Holidays}

So who else gains 10 lbs. every holiday season??? I DO...I DO! Well...let me rephrase that...I USED TO! It is really hard this time of year. There are holiday parties, goodies, and fattening festive food and there is no way not to be tempted by it all!! Let me tell you some tips I plan on using to get me through without completely wrecking what I have worked so hard for this year!

• Tip #1:  Focus on your food and your fitness Monday-Friday. Eat so well that you won't feel too bad to give yourself a little splurge on Saturday night!! This is a rule that I definitely follow. It is WAY easier to eat really well and sneak in some exercise during the week....the weekend hits and there will be a lot more temptation so just make sure you weren't splurging all week....if you know what I mean!

• Tip #2: Eat before you attend holiday parties or get-togethers. No I don't mean eat a full meal so you sit around and stare at everyone else while they are eating....I mean eat a snack on the way. Maybe an apple, some almonds and a large bottle of water. If you go into a party and you aren't starving....You will make WAY better choices throughout the night. 

• Tip #3: Bring your own dish!! Make a appetizer, side dish or dessert to take with you! Your hostess will love you for it and you will know that there is at least one dish at the party that you can enjoy without feeling too bad for it later!! Need some healthy recipes....I can help you with that!

• Tip #4: Load up on the fruits and veggies! I like to load up my plate with fruits, veggies and whatever protein they are serving. After that...I follow the tablespoon rule. If there are other dishes that you want to try.....put a little on your plate and move on. If after you clean your plate....you want to go back and get a little more of something that you really enjoyed...than do it....but I doubt you will want it at that point!

• Tip #5: Watch the alcohol! Some fruity mixed drinks will add hundreds of calories and sugar to your night and leave you feeling blah!. My favorite low calorie cocktail is a vodka/soda with a lot of fresh squeezed lime juice. It is under 100 calories and way better for you than all the diet coke or fruit juice cocktails. Another option would be a glass of wine or a wine spritzer. Just make sure you alternate between alcoholic beverage and water. You will thank me for this tip the next day...I promise.

This is a bonus tip for you guys but I think the best!! Don't feel guilty or upset at yourself if you don't eat perfectly one night or one weekend! Just start back up on Monday and forget about it!!! This is a lifestyle of healthy eating.....not a quick fix diet!! You won't always eat perfect or exercise 6 days a week. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and the people around you this holiday season!! :)

So tell me....

What tip do you use to help you stay slim throughout the holiday season???