Why You Shouldn’t Save up Dessert
With the plentiful supply of holiday treats that fill our homes every December, you may feel justified in cutting back on other foods to make room for (larger) dessert. After all, if you eat fewer calories here to consume there , things will level out over time, right? In fact, this is probably a bad idea.
While dessert in moderation can certainly fit into a healthy diet, and trying to abstain is a good way to shed excess cravings, it’s important to strive for balance even during the holidays. What you eat affects your body and mind, which can be especially difficult during these hectic times of the year. The last thing you want to add to your plate is a decrease in your ability to deal with stress – and, as it turns out, your diet plays a role in this.
Your diet affects how you respond to stress
A recent article published in the journal Clinical Nutrition talks about a study that found that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have lower stress levels than people who don’t. There are also studies in people who eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein, and heart-healthy fats like vegetable oils and fatty fish have lower levels of depression and anxiety than people who eat. a diet rich in highly processed foods.
If you want to develop your ability to better deal with stress, eating a healthy, balanced diet low in processed foods should be part of your overall strategy.
Incorporate healthy eating patterns into your life
In a world where we are surrounded by fast food, pizza and, all of a sudden, all kinds of delicious holiday desserts, completely eliminating processed foods from our lives is a strategy that is doomed to fail. Also, do not try to completely change the way you eat, as this is not entirely rational practice.
Instead of completely changing your diet, it’s much better to strive for balance based on your dietary preferences and continue to eat some of your favorite treats in moderation.
This idea formed the basis of a recent dietary recommendation from the American Heart Association. Instead of expecting people to completely change their diet or recommend certain foods, they suggest incorporating healthy eating into your existing life.
“Asking someone to cut back on certain foods they grew up with or were special to them usually doesn’t work,” said Alice Lichtenstein , scientist and director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Group at Tufts University, who co-authored the recommendation.
Does this mean that you are trying to find a healthier alternative to your favorite snacks; adding extra servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; or simply cut back on the frequency and portion size of certain foods, the idea is to find a way to make their meals fit your life, not the other way around.
How to have fun in moderation during the holidays
This does not mean that you cannot eat your favorite desserts during the holidays. But instead of skimping on regular meals to get your fill of dessert, eat a balanced dinner followed by a more modest serving of dessert. And if you overdo it a few times during the month, don’t worry – a few extra pieces of pie won’t ruin your diet or your body.
These small changes can really add up when it comes to dealing with stress on vacation better, and preventing or treating chronic health conditions. “Gradual changes can have serious consequences in the long term,” Liechtenstein said. No pie: bad. Less pie over time: better.