Beat the tasty temptations

Aurora BayCare Medical Center -  

Social gatherings can present a real challenge to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To help enjoy the fun without increasing your waistline, here are some tips.

- Offer to bring your favorite low-calorie dish. This will ensure that there will be something you enjoy and can nibble on without guilt.

- Never attend a party or event on an empty stomach. Instead, try to have a protein-filling snack beforehand, to help you feel satisfied and encourage you to eat less high-calorie “party” food.

- Watch your portion sizes and alcohol consumption. At social gatherings portion sizes tend be excessive and all alcoholic beverages are packed with calories. Choose light beer or wine over mixed drinks to save a few calories.

- Be sure to make time for exercise and relaxation. Exercise helps counteract the extra calories you may consume and can also reduce the stress of social events and family get-togethers.

Remember, weight management is all about moderation and making healthy decisions over time.

To take an online preventive health assessment, visit: http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/yourhealth/hra/index.asp