Eat Water Rich Foods to Stay Hydrated During the Holidays

Instead of setting a New Year's resolution to lose weight, make an October resolution not to gain weight during the winter holidays. Even if you gain the 1 1/2 pounds that Americans average each year, you will still be months ahead on your weight loss journey. Moreover, before putting the first food item on your plate, create an eating strategy for which foods as well as how much you plan to eat. You can occasionally indulge in a favorite but avoid extra calories from mindlessly sampling everything available. Just because it is the holidays, you don't give yourself a license to overeat. Nonetheless, eating to little can leave you feeling deprived, so plan on managing your portions of food everywhere you go. At the end of the Holiday Season, resume your normal eating routine.

• AVOID LIQUID CALORIES - Holiday parties may be the only time of year that you can truly loosen up with co-workers over a festive holiday brew. While it is true that alcohol makes you drowsy, it also diminishes the quality of your sleep and can make an existing sleep disorder worse. Moreover, holiday drinks are often filled with hidden calories, so drink wisely.
• CONSUME WATER-RICH FOODS - Broths and soups are often water-based and have the potential to be hydrating and nutritious. Consuming water-rich foods regularly may also promote weight loss due to their low calorie content and hydrating benefits.
• ADOPT AN EATING PLAN - Don't give in to every holiday temptation that comes your way. Instead, choose your indulgences wisely and, rather than waste calories on foods that you can have any day of the week, select special holiday treats like grandma's apple pie that are unique to the season.
• EAT FRESH FOODS - If you prepare you holiday meals from scratch, you can stay on top of what you eat and prevent unwanted weight gain. Moreover, planning ahead can go a long way towards preventing holiday pounds by allowing you to bring a healthy dish to share.
• INCLUDE HEALTHY FATS - Festive foods can be prepared in healthier ways. Start by discarding any bottles of regular vegetable oil in your pantry. Replace these with extra virgin olive oil and organic canola oil. Use the olive oil for low-temp creations, such as salad dressings or roasting veggies
• EAT SMART - Results of a recent study suggests that at a big sit down dinner it is best to be the last one to start eating and the second person to stop. This keeps your meal from lasting too long and helps temper decisions regarding second helpings of calorie-rich foods.
• GET PLENTY OF SLEEP - Between holiday shopping, parties and family travel, the winter holiday season can leave you short on time and sleep. Nonetheless, a lack of quality sleep increases your chances of holiday weight gain due to unsatisfactory sleep.

Take a moment to remember what the winter holidays are all about. Celebrating and connecting with friends and family should make it easier to focus on having fun with less focus placed on food options. Many people make a big mistake during the holidays by skipping meals, since they know they're going to be eating a huge meal later on. Fact is a healthy breakfast gets your metabolism going and a smart snack at lunch will make it easier to avoid overeating at a holiday event. There are a lot people in the world who do not get to celebrate the holidays with overindulgence in food and drink, and they live happy lives. Remember to stay focused on what you are truly thankful for as well as all the things that you have.

Visit the online Recipes Section of the Metabolic Research Center website for a collection of favorite meals, snacks and treats to help you celebrate the holiday season without breaking the bank. These thrifty recipes can be prepared in your home to save money while creating a special meal that no one will forget.