Five Tips for Feeling Great After A Holiday Party
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Whether you’re at a family gathering, an office party, a get-together with friends, or something else entirely, it’s all too easy to over-do it, especially around the holidays. If you know what I’m talking about, then you know what I’m talking about.
Leaving that holiday party with an awful feeling, knowing you’ll be carrying it with you the next day, maybe even for days to come. And let’s be very clear. I’m not talking about a number on the scale or a measurement around the waistline here.
Nope. Not at all.
I’m talking about how we feel after all that holiday food—the bloat, the sluggishness, the brain fog, and the spiral toward more choices that leave us with an overall feeling of lousiness.
Whether it’s appetizers, dinner, or desserts, holiday food is often either super sugary, super rich, super salty, super carby—and just so easy to over-do.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can go into all those parties—and sometimes, there are several of them in a season—with a plan.
And we can feel GREAT instead of lousy when it’s all said and done.
So Let’s Talk About 5 Tips for Feeling Great After A Holiday Party:
Bring a dish to share that you know you feel good eating—and eat that first. Party food is good and not so good all at the same time, know what I mean? But if you bring a dish that fits the kinds of food you want to eat—that you know you’ll feel good having eaten it—you’ll know that at least one thing on the table that night will work for you. Then, eat that thing FIRST. Maybe prep a little extra than you might have so that you can eat a bit more than your fair share of that item.
Load up on fresh veggies and fruits. Hang out by the fruit and veg tray or load your plate with salad. Fill up on the good stuff, so there’s less room—and desire—for all the other stuff.
Look for good fats to satisfy you. If there’s guacamole, go for it! Opt for carrot sticks and cucumbers over tortilla chips, and get dipping. High-quality cheese can be tasty and satisfying. If you eat dairy, choose a few pieces and enjoy them slowly. It is easy to over-do it at the cheese board, so pay attention to what you’re eating and how you’re feeling.
Eat before you go, even if it’s just a mini-meal. This is my least—and most—favorite. Nobody wants to prepare food at home before going to a party where food will be served—it’s like going to work on your day off. But this extra effort means arriving at a party nourished and satisfied rather than absolutely ravenous. Then you’re free to enjoy a few special items you really want, without the need to make a meal out of foods you’d probably rather not fill up on. If I’m being honest—and of course I am—I don’t always do this. But when I do, I’m always glad I did.
Drink. Drink. Drink. Water, that is. In lieu of fancy party drinks that are loaded with sugar or will leave you groggy the next morning, fill your glass with water instead. It’ll help keep your system flushed, your mind clear, and that glass in your hand will remind you that you’re navigating that party in a way that’ll leave you feeling great when it’s all over. Want something a little extra special? Try some seltzer with a splash of cranberry juice and a twist of lime.
Celebrations are special occasions, and we want to feel free to enjoy them. But if the pleasure of the day is not worth the pain that follows, try one or two or all of these tips and have a great time at your next gathering.
Remember, it’s not about shoulds and should-nots. It’s not about good or bad food. And it’s not about numbers or measurements.
It’s about living well, being well, and enjoying ourselves along the way!
Bringing a dish to your next holiday party and not sure what to bring? Try one of these colorful crowd-pleasing favorites.
