Originally published November 15, 2015 | Republished November 2, 2020 —
According to research from the Calorie Control Council, a typical holiday dinner can carry a load of 3,000 calories (chart).
Many of us will figure that we’ve blown our diet and the holidays are to be enjoyed, so why worry about weight? But even if you start the holiday season off with gastronomical excess, you can quickly get back on the right track by watching your calories.
First, identify where the calories are coming from. Visit the Council’s list of the most common holiday foods with calorie counts. Secondly, make over your meal for health. You can enjoy many of the same dishes while still reducing calories by using lower calorie ingredients. (Some popular makeover recipes are here.) Reducing the amount of fat and calories in your snacking and main holiday meals can help prevent weight gain over the holidays (from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day)
Here are some helpful tips from the Calorie Control Council:
For more sensible holiday eating tips, including an assortment of recipes for a lighter holiday menu, visit the recipe section.