Managing Your Diet During the Holidays with Jana Wolff

Before you indulge in another holiday cookie, digest this fact: On average, people gain about one to five pounds during the holiday season. And, according to Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, Director of Nutrition at GBMC’s Bariatric Surgery & Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP), these are the pounds that most people keep on over the years.

With parties, family gatherings, and sweet indulgences seemingly everywhere, Wolff explains that many people often feel out of control with eating during the holidays.

What’s one of Wolff’s hot tips for surviving holiday parties? “Don’t go to a party on an empty stomach,” she says. “Eat regular meals throughout the day. Don’t save up all of your calories for the big meal only to find yourself overindulging and consuming many more calories in that one meal than if you ate three normal meals that day.”

Wolff also gives invaluable tips and secrets to winning the battle of the bulge and surviving the deluge of holiday foods including:

• How to practice self-control around common foods that lead to overeating
• Healthy swaps and substitutions for cooking lighter and healthier (think skim milk instead of heavy cream)
• Better choices for alcoholic beverages
• How to enjoy dessert without all the guilt
• Finding balance in your diet
• Practicing “mindful eating”

“During the holidays, enjoy time with family and friends and practice mindful eating,” says Wolff. “It’s all about taking the time to slow down, enjoying the food of the season, and being present in the moment.”