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HOW TO LOVE THE HOLIDAYS

December 12, 2016

holiday_survival_guide_foodstand

Holiday season is in full swing, and you likely have more than a few festivities on the calendar. And joyfully, partaking in the delicious food and drink doesn’t have to mean getting off track. Rely on your good eating habits to embrace the season and appreciate every bite of delicious food you eat, by being mindful and making the better choice. And don’t forget, you can eat your favorite holiday cookie and still be a good eater—simply use a free pass and remember to enjoy it!

Here are our Top 5 Holiday Good Eating Tips to help you stay on track:

  1. Start the day off right. Eating a protein-packed breakfast like Baked Eggs with Herbs, Quinoa Cups, or plain yogurt with fresh fruit helps you avoid the morning sugar rush. Eating well early in the day can prevent getting off track once the sun sets.
  2. Veg out. You’re bound to find veggies and hummus on the buffet table. Eat those first, and then have a small serving of something more decadent. And if you’re in charge of a dish, make these Roasted Butternut Squash Skewers, this Braised Fennel and Blood Orange Salad, or a Turnip and Kale Gratin.
  3. Swap cookies and cakes with fruit. The holidays are notorious for dessert overload—get your sweet fix from fruit instead. You can roast them like this, poach them in wine, or blend them for a dairy-free ice cream.
  4. Drink responsibly. If you’re going the alcohol-free route, swap sugary soda for sparkling water with fresh fruit. If you are drinking alcohol, opt for wine or clear cocktails without sugary mixers (beware of margaritas, mojitos and fruit punch). And be sure to alternate alcohol and water to stay hydrated, not feel as hungry, and avoid the dreaded holiday hangover. Plus it’ll help you Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day!
  5. Plan your passes. If you’ve decided to use a free pass and eat a cider doughnut at your school or office party, then do it, and enjoy every minute of it! But don’t let one turn into two or three or four.

Join one of Foodstand’s Holiday Challenges to stay on track—focus on eating less processed food and less sugar: Avoid Soda, Avoid Sugar at Breakfast, Avoid Sweets, Avoid Added Sugar, Drink Less Alcohol, Drink 8 Glasses of Water, Make Your Lunch, or Cook Dinner More Often. And while you’re at one of your holiday parties, invite a friend to do the Challenge with you! It’s much more festive when you do it together.

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A MINDFUL THANKSGIVING

November 21, 2016

thanksgiving

The holidays are all about good cheer, gratitude, family, friends, and delicious food. But the season can also conjure up feelings of guilt and dread—tempting food overcomes our better judgement, leaving us full of regret. Every year festive recipes flood the internet, and come January, they are replaced with articles about weight loss and getting back on track after an indulgent month of overly rich food and too many desserts. But partaking in holiday festivities shouldn’t mean getting off track. The good eating habits you’ve been developing—being mindful and making the better choice—allow you to embrace the holidays, food and all, and enjoy the season even more.

The key to success is practicing moderation, which is why Challenge check-ins include free passes. You shouldn’t have to forgo a slice of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner to be a good eater. Have one serving of pie, use your free pass, and enjoy it even more—knowing that you’re continuing to develop good eating habits and eating pie, at the same time!

Here are our Top 5 Thanksgiving Good Eating Tips to help you keep up the good work:

  1. Don’t starve yourself on Thanksgiving morning because you know you’re going to eat a lot at dinner. Eat a well-balanced meal with protein and fiber to fill you up and give you energy. If you’re famished come dinner time, you’re more likely to over-indulge and make poor choices when filling your plate.
  2. Plan ahead. If you know you’re going to have meat for dinner, then don’t eat meat for lunch. If you know you’re going to have a piece of pie with whipped cream for dessert, don’t have a pastry for breakfast. Plan your Thanksgiving day meals in order to enjoy your free passes at dinner and still stay on track.
  3. Fill most of your plate with vegetables. One awesome thing about Thanksgiving dinner is all of the delicious vegetable side dishes. Sautéed green beans, crispy brussels sprouts, stuffed winter squash, and caramelized carrots should make it easy to cover most of your plate with veggies. Then fill the rest with turkey, gravy and stuffing.
  4. Don’t take too much. Just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you should have to unbutton your pants to feel comfortable after dinner. Overeating likely means regret and guilt, neither of which are any fun. Plus, you need to save some room for pie, right?!
  5. Eat one bite at a time. If you eat too quickly, you won’t fully enjoy your Thanksgiving meal, and will likely overeat. The good news is that eating one bite at a time is much easier with your family and friends!

Yes, Thanksgiving dinner is about food, but it’s also about people sitting around the table, and having good conversation with those we care about. Share how the good eating habits you’ve been developing allow you to stay on track, and keep you and the planet healthy.

Invite your friends and family to join a Mindful Eating Challenge with youEat At Least 1 Distraction-Free Meal, Eat One Bite At A Time, No Food Waste or Stop Eating 2 Hours Before Bed. Let’s help each other maintain our mindful eating habits this holiday season!

From the Team

TOP TIPS & FAQS OF THE WEEK

November 14, 2016

foodstand_faqs

Each and every one of you Foodstanders is an inspiration! Be sure and take a moment to pat yourself on the back, and thank yourself for making awesome changes in your life, one day at a time. In the last week we’ve avoided over 450,000 grams of sugar, and consumed 20,000 glasses of water! #HighFives to everyone for working so hard to build lasting healthy eating habits.

A huge welcome to all new Foodstanders! We’re so glad you’ve decided to build good eating habits and make the better choice when it comes to what you put into your bodies. You’re worth it! Since there are so many new folks in the community, we want to answer some of the most frequently asked questions and share some tips that came up this week. If you have a thought or question for the community, please ask or share!

Q: Can you do more than one Challenge at once?
A: No. It has been shown that tackling one aspect of your diet at a time is the best way to form new habits. Work your way through the levels of your current Challenge, and when you feel as though you’ve developed a lasting habit, start a new Challenge!

Q: I slipped. What do I do?
A: Use a free pass when you check in on the Foodstand app, and get back on track for the rest of the day. Don’t be hard on yourself, and remember—progress over perfection! Slipping means you’re trying, so be sure to congratulate yourself on the next healthy choice you make 🙂

Q: How can I make myself drink more water throughout the day?
A: Always keep a water bottle on hand. If water is in reach, you’re more likely to drink it. Try drinking sparkling water (seltzer) with pieces of chopped fruit and/or mint in it—it’s much more fun than plain water. Or make a cup of tea (it counts as water!) for a flavorful, warm drink on a cold day.

Q: What’s a good soda alternative?
A: We love sparkling water with fresh fruit! The fruit flavors the water, plus it’s nice and fizzy. Or if you need something slightly sweeter, pour a splash of 100% fruit juice in a glass, and top if off with sparkling water (just remember that fruit juice is liquid sugar, so be sure to dilute it with the water).

Q: How can I prevent myself from snacking before bed?
A: Make a cup of herbal tea in the evening so you have something to sip. Reading a good book, watching a movie, or playing a game can also be a good distraction. Also, be sure to fill up on veggies, protein and whole grains—if you eat well throughout the day and have a nutritious dinner, you won’t think as much about snacking before bed.

Q: Help! How do I curb my sugar cravings?
A: Quitting sugar is hard, so be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for joining the Challenge! First, make sure you eat a well-balanced diet throughout the day—fill up on vegetables, lean meat or fish, whole grains and healthy fats (such as nuts or avocado). These foods will help you kick your cravings by keeping you full longer, balancing your blood sugar levels, and giving you the fuel that your body needs. The first week is the most difficult, but it WILL get easier, so hang tight! And if you need something sweet, grab a piece of fresh or dried fruit (such as a date or dried mango) to satisfy your craving.

Click here to read more FAQs.