Explore new taste and flavors. If you’re hosting the holiday meal, don’t waste calories and carbohydrate on everyday food like mashed potatoes. Davis, a food cottage operator, suggest you try her roasted winter vegetable mix of chickpeas, butternut squash, cabbage, and onions. To keep the mixture moist, Davis adds ½ cup of broth before roasting the vegetables at 425o for 35 – 45 minutes or until fork tender. “I typically use canned chickpeas and add them during the last 15 minutes just to heat thoroughly,” says Davis. You can season this dish with a little salt and pepper as desired. For a more ethnic flavor season with spices such as coriander or curry.
Slow down, you eat too fast! Put your fork down between bites and savor the taste of food and enjoy the companionship during a meal or get-together. Eating slowly can also help you feel full faster and stop eating before you get that bloated and stuffed-up feeling.
Drink to your health. Champagne, wine and alcoholic drinks pack in a lot of calories and can cause unexpected low blood glucose levels. Instead try fruit-infused sparkling water, seltzer or tea. “Some of my favorites are Jamaican Sorrel, Roobios, or ginger tea made with fresh ginger root,” says Davis.
Accentuate the positive. Give yourself credit for positive health behaviors. Davis says “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep the holiday season in proper perspective, and enjoy time with your family and friends.”
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes. She is a Dannon One Yogurt Every Day Nutrition Advisor.