Your Christmas Cookie Survival Guide
7 tips to enjoy your indulgence without overdoing it.
Don't beat yourself up over a cookie or two. Indulgence is fun for a reason, and a day or two of binging won't have you looking like Mrs. Claus.
"If there's something or a day where you really want to indulge, you might be willing to do a little extra activity to make up for it," says Sandra Carpenter, RD, Senior Program Manager for Weight Management and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
You don't have to spend all winter on a treadmill, though. Use these strategies to satisfy your cravings without overdoing it.
"Having regular meals and snacks throughout the day will help you make better decisions at the party," she says. And start with a glass of water before your first drink. The water will help fill you up faster, while the alcohol will stimulate your appetite.
If you take a plate of leftover goodies home, don't replace a healthy snack habit of fruit with a handful of treats, Ventrelle says.
"Think of them as a dessert after meals," she says. "Cut back on carbs a little bit during the meal—have just a half-portion of rice or skip a slice of bread."
