Tips on How to Stay Slim During the Winter Season
Of course we tend to eat more hot foods in cooler weather. And most of us tend to eat more, stay inside more, and that means less exercise. Some extra effort must go into watching what you eat and maintaining a healthy diet to stay slim and fit throughout the winter.
Here are some helpful hints to make this winter season your most slimming:
- Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast to fuel your day!
- Make it a team effort - Join a support group if you are prone to gaining weight, it can be sociable as well as informative
- Fuel up - Never go to a party or event hungry. Be sure to fill up on healthy foods such as fruits and veggies before you go, that way you won’t be tempted to eat unhealthy foods. Resist the temptation of those perfectly arranged appetizers.
- Avoid empty calories such as sugary beverages, extra sweets, and high calorie snacks with no nutritional value...ask yourself "Do I really need these?"
- Schedule more exercise sessions - Turn your shopping trip into a fun activity and weight loss opportunity. Wear comfortable walking shoes, park further away from the entrance, use stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Most importantly, bring your support team along!
- Keep a food diary - learn to keep track of those good and bad habits that you may have picked up throughout the year. You will begin to recognize where changes need to be made
- It’s normal to crave heavier and heartier foods when it’s cold outside, but it is up to you to modify the meals to satisfy your cravings and control your weight. So, choose your comfort foods wisely…
- Winter is as good a time as any to become your own health guide. Take it upon yourself to learn some new low-calorie recipes
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
- Keep healthy snacks handy. Try some light popcorn, carrot sticks, fresh fruit, low carb chips or sugarless candy
Try these low calorie recipes to add a touch of warmth and comfort to your winter diet without compromising your waistline!
- Decadent Low-Calorie Hot Chocolate (Serving 1)
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tablespoons of your favorite artificial sweetener
1 cup of boiling water or non-fat milk
Nutrition Facts:
Fat
Total Carbs
Protein
Calories
3.11g
18.11g
9.28g
120
- Chewy Low-Calorie Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Serving 30)
Ingredients
1 C. Wheat Flour
1/2 C. Splenda
1 1/2 C. Quick oats (Quaker Quick Oats)
1 tsp. Baking soda
Dash of Cinnamon
1/4 C. Sugar free applesauce
1/4 C. + 2 Tbsp. Honey
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 1/4 C. Raisins
Could also add nuts, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apples - I suppose any dried fruit you wish.
Directions
Stir flour, oats, Splenda, baking soda and cinnamon (mix well). Add applesauce, honey and vanilla. Still until the mix comes together and begins to stick. It will be a sticky batter. Add raisins and stir until well incorporated. Use teaspoons (or dinner spoons) to drop teaspoon size batter onto sprayed cookie sheet. Mash cookies down with the back of a serving spoon (sprayed lightly with cooking spray so it won't stick). I formed mine a little when I mashed them down so they would be somewhat round (not perfect of course). Cook for 6-9 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown.
Nutritional Facts:
Amount per serving
Calories: |
Total Carbs: |
Dietary Fiber: |
Protein: |
66.1 |
15.3g |
0.9g |
1.1g |
Created By: Denise Cykiert, RD
