Newswise — Pennsylvania Hospital nutrition counselor, Debra DeMille, M.S., R.D. offers the following healthy eating tips to ensure a merry holiday season:
"¢ Plan healthy eating and exercise in advance. Keep healthy food in your refrigerator. You do not "have to" abandon all of your efforts for a healthier lifestyle because of the "riches" of the holidays."¢ Eat regularly scheduled meals " don't skip a meal to save yourself for a big event."¢ Eat before you go out shopping or visiting. Avoid being in a position where a meal is skipped due to a hectic schedule."¢ Stay well rested and exercise to help with stress level and burn off those extra calories."¢ When at a buffet, survey the options before picking up a plate. Decide what you would enjoy the most instead of trying to eat it all. This will help keep the "overages" in reason."¢ Eat to your comfort level. Avoid being excessively hungry or uncomfortably full."¢ Decorate your house with ornaments and pinecones, not food. It's too tempting to reach for the cookie tray. "¢ Avoid all drinks or salad dressings with raw egg (eggnog, caesar salad dressing).
DeMille also suggests abstaining from alcohol or limit volume, if possible. "Staying well hydrated with non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages is important. And watch the amount of calories in sugary drinks " flavored coffee drinks can have as many as 500 calories," she continues. A healthy drink option may be club soda mixed with ½ cup of pomegranate juice. "If you do drink, be sure it is with food, and not on an empty stomach," DeMille urges.
She also suggests giving a healthy gift when gift giving. "Some great examples are dried bean soup mixtures, herb planters or clementines, says DeMille. "They're different- and a healthy addition to the holiday season for your family, friend or loved one."
Debra DeMille, M.S., R.D. is the Nutrition Counselor at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital.
About Pennsylvania HospitalPennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first -- was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. Today, the 515-bed acute care facility offers a full-range of diagnostic and therapeutic medical services and is a major teaching and clinical research institution. The hospital has over 25,000 admissions each year, including over 5,000 births. With a national reputation in areas such as orthopaedics, cardiac care, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and urology as well as obstetrics, high-risk maternal and fetal services, neonatology, and behavioral health, the campus also includes specialty treatment centers such as the Joan Karnell Cancer Center, the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, the PENN Neurological Institute and the radiosurgical Gamma Knife Center. Pennsylvania Hospital is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and is located in the historic Society Hill district of Philadelphia.
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