Healthy Eating for the Holidays

It never hurts to have some guidelines to help you enjoy seasonal treats and envision healthy eating habits.

• Never skip a meal to conserve calories.
• Eat something before you go to a party or family gathering - it is best to combine a carbohydrate and protein.
• All foods can fit in moderation. Yes You Can have your favorite treats, just keep an eye on your portion sizes, and balance high and low fat options
• Limit or avoid high calorie beverages. One cup of eggnog has the same calories as a piece of apple pie.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Savor and enjoy food. Use the twenty-minute rule.
• Take a walk after a big meal.
• Be realistic. Strive to maintain your weight over the holidays.

  Portion size guidelines from the American Dietetic Association:
 

Serving	Size
3 ounces of meat	Deck of cards
1 cup fruit or yogurt	Baseball
½ cup veg. or fruit or pasta	Tennis Ball
1 medium potato	Computer mouse
1 tsp. butter	Thumb tip
1 ounce of cheese	Four small dice

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.