holidays

This post is sponsored by Zone Perfect

The holiday season can feel like a whirlwind of parties and excuses for indulging in sinfully delicious and high calorie food.

Everywhere you turn, there is a tray of cookies or pasta– am I right?

And it tends to carry over sometimes into the early days of  the new year– tempting our efforts at eating right…

But there are ways you can enjoy this season of eating without packing on the pounds.

Below are some simple strategies you can start implementing today:

Don’t skip meals!

The less calories we eat during the day, the more calories we can chow down on at our big shindig– It is a common mindset that I’ve been guilty of from time to time that sounds good in theory, but in practice it is setting you up for failure.

The less you eat during the day, the more hungry you become and in the end you will likely eat more calories in the day than you would have if you ate balanced meals prior.

Stash protein rich snacks at your desk

Protein rich snacks will fill you up and things like fruit and almonds are filled with it and if you really want a sweet treat packed with protein, stock up on snack bars like Zone Perfect’s Perfectly Simple protein snack bars.

Zone Perfect’s Perfectly Simple limited edition holiday flavors, Pumpkin Chai and Peppermint Bark are filled with flavor for that sweet tooth and are also gluten free, under 200 calories and has 10 grams of protein! Win, win, win.

Go to town on the Crudite

When you get to the party, try to fill up on the veggies first. The more veggies you nosh, the fuller you will feel and the less likely you will be to over indulge in the carbs and fried stuff.

Use a small plate

It’s easy to over eat when your eating appetizers. “Just a bite of this”, “just a bite of that” feels kind of harmless– but it adds up. Filling up a small plate and stepping away from the dips and finger foods will help you with portion control.

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About Zone Perfect’s Perfectly Simple Limited Edition Peppermint Bark Protein Snack Bar:

Get your holly jollies on without the guilt. This gluten-free, protein-packed snack combines the velvety sweetness of white chocolate chunks and cocoa with the refreshing finish of peppermint.

Available in Target.

Disclosure: Zone Perfect  is a paid sponsor of Complicated Mama. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.