Resisting Temptation: How to Deal with Holiday Treats and Favorite Foods

Even if you don’t have young kids bringing home Halloween candy, you’re likely to find it at the office on plenty of desktops or the break room. And after that comes the traditional holiday season, which is synonymous with food – lots of it, and all your tempting favorites, no doubt.

For most people, holidays and special occasions can be tough, trying not to overindulge in caloric, fattening foods. But for those with Diabetes, it can be even harder. All those sugary and high-carbohydrate foods can wreak havoc on your blood glucose levels. Here are some tips to help you deal with tempting foods during the holidays or other times you might be faced with an excess of food.

10 Tips to Resist Temptation

1. If you have Halloween candy or food from holiday meals left over, freeze it, take it to the office or give it away.
2. Don’t diet before the holidays. Mentally, you’re giving yourself an excuse to binge at holiday meals and parties.
3. Approach the holidays with good intentions. Enlist the support of family and friends to help you stick to your plan to eat and drink sensibly.
4. Don’t go cold turkey on your weaknesses. If you’re a chocoholic, allow yourself one small portion of candy or slice of cake. If you’re diabetic, just be sure to check your blood glucose level and counter a rise in blood sugar with an appropriate dose of insulin.
5. Diabetic or not, you can also counter those extra sugars and carbs with exercise. If you allow yourself to indulge, resolve to burn off the extra calories by increasing your physical activity.
6. Stick with smaller portions. Just because it’s a holiday or special occasion does not give you license to supersize your meal. And by all means, do not go back for second helpings! Eat slowly, chew your food and focus on the taste.
7. Before going to a party or sitting down to a big meal, eat a low-calorie, high-fiber snack to help quell your appetite. By doing so, you won’t be as tempted to eat everything in sight.
8. Keep sugar-free gum on hand. Chewing gum can help you fight the urge to snack or nibble while you’re cooking.
9. Ever notice how it’s hard to eat at a party when you’re busy being a social butterfly? Engage yourself in conversation with friends and family and you’ll be less likely to load up on appetizers. At the table, offer to help the host clean up to remove yourself from the temptation of grazing or going for seconds.
10. Limit your intake of alcohol. Many alcoholic beverages contain nothing but empty calories. Go for spritzers, sparkling water and diet beverages to keep your hands and mouth occupied.

After the Holidays

Some of the above tips apply to everyday life, not just to holidays and social occasions. Here are a few other tips for helping you through the daily temptations:

• Determine what foods you find irresistible and do not let them in the house. Don’t buy them at the store and don’t allow family members to bring them home. Don’t cook or bake them, either. If it’s not there, you can’t eat it.
• If you do buy tempting foods, either make a special, one-time trip for them (go to the ice cream parlor instead of the grocery store) or at least choose the smallest size.
• Never go to the grocery store hungry. Go after a meal, eat a low-calorie, high-fiber snack first, or chew gum. Make your grocery list and stick to it. Also, peruse the perimeter of the store. That’s where you’ll find the healthy foods such as dairy, meat, seafood and produce.