Ask a Dietitian

Ask a Dietitian

"Diana, just a quick heads up to let you know we are still using your cookbook and the guys will often be heard saying what would Diana say about this or that....really good feed back... I made your potato salad and the oriental coleslaw on Sat. for a family luncheon and had rave reviews so thanks again."

Maeghan Henke
BC Hydro

Keeping a Schedule When on Holidays

December 27th, 2006

KEEPING A SCHEDULE WHEN YOU ARE ON HOLIDAYS

Exercise Tips:

  • Get on top of it early. Hitting the routine first thing will a) provide you with a great start to the day, b) shake out the cobwebs faster than dragging yourself around, c) make you feel you have earned your eating and socializing time and d) kick start the entire group.
  • Accountability. Again that great word that makes sure we actually fulfill our good intentions. Pick a partner; mother, father, child and make a pact together. The more people committed to the cause, the greater likelihood of reaching the goal and the better overall feeling. Again, know people are always skeptical until they are actually involved.
  • Take a program. One less thing you have to do and think about is what you are going to do. If you have the ability to work with a professional, ask them to create an away program based on your needs, if this is not in the cards, info@innovativefitness.com is a great place to resource this information

Nutrition Tips:

  • Stay on a schedule. Get up and eat breakfast. If staying at hotels on your holidays, hit the grocery store, and buy cereal and fruit and yogurt and milk to keep in the mini bar.
  • Pack snacks for the day. Keeping your blood sugars stable will make for a much more enjoyable day and happy kids. Not to mention energy for all the activities planned.
  • Restaurant dinning: Choose the restaurant wisely for dinner. Eat a healthy lunch, avoiding pop and fried foods. Just because it is a restaurant doesn’t give you permission to abandon all your healthy habits. If you have to eat out for several meals a day you need to make good choices most of the time. Have water, milk, fruit juice or juice spritzers to drink, order a vegetable plate for the table instead of a bread basket and skip dessert at lunch.
  • Portion Control: Keep your eye on portion sizes – it’s often not what but how much you eat that can make the difference to overindulgence at any time of the year. Use Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating as guide to serving sizes. Enjoy a piece of shortbread or a small portion of the traditional plum pudding.

Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!