Keto During The Holidays
It’s that time of year!
Sweet treats, frothy hot drinks, and savory meals are all part of our end-of-the-year holiday feasting. But, when you’re actively on the keto diet, especially strict keto, this can be a huge challenge!
You don’t want to undo the progress you’ve made, but at the same time you don’t want to be eating mere salad at Christmas dinner (watch the Romaine lettuce).
So, how do you navigate holiday eating? Especially when you know you’ll have friends and family encouraging you to take a slice of pie, down a glass of wine, or snag your portion of mac n’ cheese.
OPTION 1: STAY THE KETO COURSE
One option is to stick to your keto (or healthy meal plan) and prep some alternatives if you have to. Bring a tubberware container or two filled with turkey and bacon, or avocado and spinach. If you prep and bring some of your own food, you’ll know exactly what’s in it and how it was prepared.
If you don’t have the time or desire to do this, then go to your holiday gathering with the intent of filling half your plate with protein and healthy fat, and the other half with veggies/greens and a complex carb. You’ll want to favor protein and fat over everything else, and skip dessert and wine.
OPTION 2: CHEAT DAY
Unless you go on a crazy 4,000-calorie binge, a day of jumping off the keto bandwagon isn’t going to destroy you. Eat what you want, just pay attention to portion size. Also, remember that taking in high sodium foods and carbs will have you holding on to water weight and looking a bit more bloated, so don’t feel discouraged if it seems you gained a few pounds after this. Give it 3-4 days of returning back to keto before assessing your weight fluctuation. I will also add that you’ll be kicked out of ketosis and will have to jump back in (watch out for keto flu!).
OPTION 3: A BIT OF KETO, A BIT OF YUM!
This is what I did for Thanksgiving. I ate a modest strict keto breakfast, a healthy snack, then used my last meal to eat Turkey, stuffing, candied yams, a slice of cake, and a glass of red wine. Oh, and plantains and a pupusa! A day or so afterward, I held on to 3-4 pounds of water weight, but it went back down to pre-Thanksgiving level by just eating keto again and taking in water and exercising.
Don’t beat yourself up for enjoying food. Don’t feel guilty for having a slice of pie. Keto will be there for you tomorrow, and one meal or indulgence isn’t going to morph you into the Michelin man overnight. The holidays are a time to celebrate, enjoy friends and family, and feast–choose what works best for you and your eating regimen. And remember, Beautiful, if you feel you’ve “fallen off the wagon,” there is no shame in that and you can ALWAYS dust yourself off and get back on track 🙂
Happy Holidays!
