Have you consistently made a New Year’s resolution each year to lose weight? When you’re in your 40’s like me, eating healthy during holidays is something that I have to consciously be aware of and prepare for in advance, so I can make healthy decisions when going to all those family gatherings, and holiday baking festivities.
I grew up in a Greek household, where food was the center of our family and always brought us together. My Mother would make huge Greek feasts, but the Greek holiday cookie and pastry baking that took an entire day was the highlight every year! In fact, we still keep this tradition every year. During the second week of December, my Mom comes over and we bake a variety of Greek cookies and pastries to deliver to all of our family and friends. This tradition takes an entire day, but it’s so worth the end result, which is the most delicious melt-in-your mouth powdered almond sugar cookies (Kourambiethes), honey dipped- cinnamon cookies (Melomakarona), sugar cookie braids (Koulourakia), and the infamous honey syrup walnut with crispy filo dough pastry- Baklava! If I don’t mentally prepare before baking, I will either eat most of the cookie dough, or eat about 7 cookies of each until my stomach is about to burst and my sugar level is through the roof.
My friends always ask me, “How do you have all of these desserts in front of you and not eat any of them?” Good question- well, here’s the answer to how I do it, and what I do to plan for the holiday baking tradition and holiday feast gatherings:
1. When I wake up the day of holiday baking, I make sure to mentally and physically prepare for the day. Making a list of what I’m going to eat for the day and sticking to it. Putting on holiday music to keep my brain occupied and filled with happy up-beat songs to dance and bake to is a fun way we start the day over here at our house.
2. I have to make sure I have all of my snacks are pre-cut and ready to eat, and my lunch and dinner are well thought out. Otherwise, I’m setting myself up for a day of indulgence and added pounds on the waste line.
3. I will take all of my vitamin supplements along with a two-egg and cheese omelet and coffee to start the day.
4. Since my stomach is full, I won’t typically crave or want anything I’m baking. If I need a taste tester, I will recruit my little ones to be the judge of adding more vanilla or sugar to the ingredients.
5. Throughout the day, I make sure to drink lots of water and will have plenty of cubed cheese snacks, almonds, sliced cucumbers, and a pre-made protein shake ready to drink.
6. After all of the baking is complete, I ensure to wrap up all of the pastries in their gift boxes or platters for giving and keep a few for us at home “yia to kalo”, which means for the good luck of the season.
7. If I do end up eating a cookie or two, or maybe if I prepare to eat for a cookie or two from the very beginning, I will eat very low fat, low carb foods and switch out the cheese and nuts for just cucumbers, broccoli, etc. If I end up eating the cheese or nuts or higher fat protein during the day and also eat cookies- I will definitely gain weight with all the fat and sugar. I try to avoid failing as much as possible, but I also have to remember to forgive myself if I do mess up and want a few cookies. I just get back on track the next day and that’s okay. When I am feasting for our family dinner, I will make smart choices and just go for protein and vegetables or salad. There’s always low carb options such as cheese, salami, and olives for an appetizer, and then I will choose lots of salad, feta cheese, broccoli or brussels sprouts, beef or turkey, and that’s it. For my beverage, I do not drink wine anymore because of the sugar content, so I’ll choose vodka and diet coke if I’m socializing, or with dinner just water, or a diet coke. Side note: I know diet coke is not a healthy choice and my mother and children tell me to stop drinking it, but it’s my only guilty pleasure and I can’t seem to part with it just yet. It makes me feel like I’m drinking my dessert.
I remember last year when I followed this plan, I set myself up for success and I was so happy with myself and my results after the holidays. It was the first year that I didn’t gain any weight during the holidays. Typically, I would gain 10 pounds during the holidays- no joke. I would eat like I wasn’t ever going to eat another meal, but that’s how I was brought up- to eat everything on your plate and have a little bit of everything. It all looked too amazing not to try and devour. After years of feeling terrible about gaining so much weight after the holidays, and consistently making it a New Years resolution to lose 10-15 pounds each year- I finally figured it out and this is the only way I have managed to keep off the weight and maintain a healthy relationship with food.