The holidays are coming up, starting this week with Halloween.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like we have just one constant holiday from Halloween to New Years. So much food, parties and fun stuff going on.
I love the holidays, but I don’t love the constant sense of indulgence and excess. We don’t need 2 full months of holidays to show others we care.

Healthy Food Changes You Can Make WITHOUT Freaking Out Your Family
Tired of your kids (and husband) complaining about eating healthy food. Get our list of Real Food Substitutions to help you switch out the bad foods for better choices. And they taste better too!
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So today, I want to talk about how you stay on your real food diet during the holidays. And I don’t mean just hiding out at home.
How do you enjoy the festivities without weight gain, bloat and being just plain miserable? That’s the question and hopefully I have the answer.
9 Tips to Enjoy the Holidays While Not Sacrificing Your Real Food Lifestyle
1. Take your own food
When you are invited to a holiday party, offer to bring food. This gives you a great opportunity to bring something healthy, that you can eat.
Most hosts would love you to bring food. It would help them out a ton.
Then, you know there is atleast one thing that you can eat at the party. Most likely it won’t be the only thing you can eat, but it’s always better to be safe.
2. Look at the menu ahead of time
If you are having a work party or family gathering at a restaurant, check out the menu online ahead of time to see what your options are. This will help you get a game plan together that you can live with and still enjoy the visiting with the people around you.
This goes for anytime you are on a certain diet (gluten free, low carb, etc), but it is especially helpful during the holidays. After all, the people you are seeing and spending time with are more important than the food and drink you consume.
3. Eat before you go
Don’t go to a party or gathering hungry. That is a big no-no!
Make sure you eat something, even if it just a handful of nuts or a bar, before you go. Ideally you should eat a meal before you go so you won’t be tempted to eat a ton while you are there.
4. Take a friend that eats the same way
My husband and I always eat better when we are together. We encourage each other to eat good foods and help each other withstand temptation.
If you have a family member, coworker or friend that lives your same lifestyle the rest of the year, bring them with you to the holiday activity. That way you can support each other and keep each other on track.
5. Wear tight fitted clothing
Have you heard of people wearing their “stretchy pants” to Thanksgiving so they have more room to eat? Don’t do that.
If you wear fitted or tight fitting clothes, you are more likely to feel how full you are sooner. That should help you stop eating before it gets out of control.
6. Eat slow
Holiday parties and gatherings are for visiting and entertainment. Food is not entertainment, it is fuel.
So eat slow and talk more. Don’t shovel in the food. Enjoy it. This will help you eat less and notice faster that you are full.
7. Don’t take food home
If you bring food and the container isn’t empty at the end of the night, don’t take it home. Leave it for your host.
If additional food is offered to take home, politely refuse. You don’t need extra food, especially if it is tempting food you don’t normally eat. Just don’t do it.
8. Drink lots of water
Drinking water is good for you and it will help fill you up. It will help keep you hydrated and not as hungry. So before you eat or drink anything at your holiday party, try drinking some water first. It will help curb your appetite.
9. Fill up on meat, veggies and good fat
If you are eating a meal at your holiday party, fill up on meat, veggies and good fat first. These are items that are healthy, filling, and just good for you.
They will also keep you full longer, so you are less likely to graze all night long.
The holidays are a great time to celebrate our culture, traditions and spend time with family. Many of these things evolve around food.
If you choose to indulge, that’s ok. But know your limits and pay attention to how your body feels later.
What we don’t want to do is pig out 24/7 for two months. That isn’t good for anyone and it isn’t necessary.
With these tips, we can enjoy the holidays and stay healthy. It’s all about limits and moderation. Food is only part of the celebration, not the whole thing!
You can do this! And come January, you will be so happy you did!

What is the food that you want to indulge in the most during the holidays? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

Healthy Food Changes You Can Make WITHOUT Freaking Out Your Family
Tired of your kids (and husband) complaining about eating healthy food. Get our list of Real Food Substitutions to help you switch out the bad foods for better choices. And they taste better too!
When you sign up for our email list, you will get this PDF for free, along with weekly emails covering topics on gardening, homesteading, etc. Don't worry. We won't spam your inbox. You can unsubscribe any time.