For those inundated by invitations to holiday parties — friends, work, family — can’t expect to stay trim by slimming down between events.
“Any time you starve yourself, you’re creating a risk,” said nutritionist Nancy Glaser, with the University of Maryland Medical Center. “If it’s party after party after party, we all need to moderate what we’re eating.”
And while many people joke that they aren’t going to eat for a week after that Thanksgiving meal “They rarely follow through,” she said. Most people feel quite hungry the morning after Thanksgiving, and if you’re planning some Black Friday contact sports, you’ll need your energy.
There is something you can do outside the party, said Greater Baltimore Medical Center dietitian Loretta Gore, and that’s make sure youeat healthy and in moderation when you are in control of the menu. “Fill your plate more with fresh fruits and vegetables and a protein rather than simple carbohydrates.”
But don’t try to diet on the side, she said. “It’s just a bad habit for you to form. People who don’t eat breakfast or lunch are more likely to gorge on dinner and eat more than enough to make up.”
As for that myth about tryptophan making people sleepy: “It’s really just a factor of overeating and being fatigued,” Glaser said.
Your stomach has taken control of the blood supply to help it handle the deluge of food, she said. Next time give it a break with more sensible portions.
