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Holiday Foods to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight

Holiday Foods to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight

Are you trying to avoid weight gain during the holiday season? That can be hard, especially with all of those tempting sweets and treats around. While some may think it’s impossible to do so, there are certain food items that should always be avoided. These include creamy gravies, fried hors d’oeuvres like spring rolls or cheese sticks, sugary cocktails, and anything deep-fried!

Eating too much of any of these foods will not only hinder your progress but might even contribute to gaining more calories than usual. Therefore, read further as we explain why avoiding such high-calorie content in meals must be a priority if one wishes for successful results this time around!

Sugary Sweets

It’s no secret that the holidays are a time to indulge in all sorts of sweet and sugary treats. Whether it’s cookies, cakes, candy canes, or other delectable delights, we often feel obligated over the season to fill up on these delightful desserts. However, if your goal is weight loss, then you should be wise about such indulgences, given their high-caloric content.

Sugary sweets may taste good, but they can easily derail one’s efforts for healthful eating, packing up an excessive amount of calories with little nutritional value into every bite! For example, one cupcake amounts to approximately 350 kcal, relative to two cups of sliced strawberries, which equate to only 50 kcal. This really puts things into perspective!

So, beware when coming across those sweet temptations during holiday gatherings, as they could potentially lead you off track when trying to reach greater fitness goals.

Fried Appetizers & Entrées

It’s best to avoid fried meals altogether during the holidays if you’re trying to keep your weight in check. Many of these foods can be very high in fat and calories, which are difficult for our bodies to process, making them hard on our stomachs as well. Avoid dishes with tempura or deep-fried ingredients such as fish, shrimp, and vegetables, like fritters or croquettes, as well as chicken wings and calamari rings, which may have a crunchy exterior but still contain a lot of oil inside.

Furthermore, it’s wise not to indulge too much in battered items, from French fries to onion rings, because they will add up quickly over time while their nutritional content is minimal at best. Fried churros, one of the favorite holiday snacks across Latin America, can pack more than 600 calories per serving! These tasty treats should only be consumed occasionally when dieting is not a priority since they offer few nutrients other than fats and carbs.

Processed Snacks & Chips

It’s easy to be tempted by processed snacks and chips during the holidays. But these are usually filled with empty calories, not essential nutrients your body needs in order to thrive. You should pay attention to serving sizes when eating these foods.

It is very common for these foods to have a large number of calories per serving size. This can add up quickly, leading you away from achieving healthy weight loss results. Beware of oversized packages.

They might contain multiple servings, which can make it difficult to be mindful about how much you consume at one time. This could sabotage your progress toward desired goals related to healthily losing unwanted excess pounds before the new year. Don’t let these packages lead you astray!

So try your best to avoid binging on high-fat and salty treats like potato chips. Opt instead for whole grain-based options if available, or reduce portion sizes so that any indulgences stay within recommended limits without having to do dieting remorse later once you finish enjoying the season’s celebration.

Few-Fruit Fruit Drinks & Smoothies

You should stay away from a few fruit drinks and smoothies, even if they’re labeled “healthy” or “low calorie.” Store-bought juices can contain a lot of added sugar. These sugary beverages add up quickly in terms of calories; just one cup contains around 120 to 200 calories! Homemade smoothies made with fresh fruits, vegetables, milk alternatives, and protein powders may be more acceptable but still need to be limited.

Make sure you read the ingredient list carefully; many brands have hidden sugars that could ruin your weight-loss efforts. Be mindful of portion sizes when having these types of drinks, too. Start by trying to drink half an 8-ounce glass.

This will help you avoid consuming too much refined sugar or artificial sweeteners such as saccharin. Saccharin has been linked to potential health risks, including an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

White Bread, Pasta and Rice Dishes

It’s essential to be mindful of the types of carbohydrates you’re eating during the holidays. White bread, pasta, and rice dishes may seem like staple comfort foods for holiday celebrations or dinners, but they’re not recommended when trying to lose weight. Eating these items can lead to higher blood sugar levels, which could affect your health in a negative way and cause cravings for other unhealthy food options.

They have minimal nutritional value compared with whole-grain alternatives, so they often leave one feeling unsatisfied after meals or drinks, leading people back down an unhealthy path again. Try finding creative recipes utilizing alternative grains or making vegetable substitutions instead, such as cutting out potatoes with cauliflower mash and using spiralized zucchini noodles rather than traditional spaghetti varieties where possible!

High-Calorie Rich Desserts

You may be tempted to indulge in holiday desserts like apple pie, pumpkin cake, and cupcakes. While these high-calorie-rich treats are often delicious, they can undo your weight-loss efforts if you enjoy them too much or too frequently. To stay on track during the holidays, try limiting yourself to one small portion of dessert every now and then when attending holiday gatherings.

If possible, limit sugary sweeteners when making homemade desserts. Examples include sugar cane solids, honey syrup, and brown rice syrup. An alternative would be to bake a fruit crisp instead of traditional pies or cakes with an oat crumble topping that only uses natural sugars from fruits for sweetness.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of eating too much over the holidays, especially when surrounded by so many high-calorie snacks and treats. Eating healthily is important for weight loss, but it can be difficult during times like this. To help manage your cravings, avoid high-calorie holiday foods such as rich sauces or gravies, pies and pastries with whipped cream or ice cream toppings, deep-fried foods (like latkes), eggnog lattes, or alcoholic drinks loaded up on sugary mixers.

A better option would be sticking to the Wilmington Weight Loss program. Make sure you’re having plenty of fruits and vegetables that maintain fullness while avoiding extra calories at social gatherings!

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