How to Avoid Overindulging on Food and Drink on Special Occasions

There is always going to be some point in your life when you say you are on a diet. Perhaps you want to improve your health with hellofresh and eat more nutritious foods. Alternatively, maybe you are trying to shed a few pounds and feel better about yourself. Either way, this is described as going on a diet and being careful about what you eat.

But, there is one downfall for almost everybody. We are talking about special occasions. When it is a birthday, Christmas time or another special occasion, there is often exciting food and drink on offer. Most people find it hard to say no.

The problem is, after the event, you can feel terrible about yourself and regretful about what you have consumed. Indeed, you can feel like you have overindulged. Yes, you should enjoy a treat every now and then. But, eating too much can leave you feeling lethargic and irritable. Here are some tips on how you can avoid overindulging on food and drink on special occasions. 

Select Healthier Food

The truth is, you are going to enjoy a lot more food on special occasions than you would normally. This does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. Yes, you want to avoid eating too much. But, something else you can try to do is eat the healthiest options available to you. This way, you can avoid the guilt you feel. Indeed, mindful eating like can ensure that you still enjoy yourself, but you are giving your body what it needs too.

There are always going to be healthy options available. So, when you have a choice, make sure you select some. This could be as simple as choosing fruit for dessert if this is on the menu. Alternatively, it could be a healthy soup as a starter.

Eat Slowly

There is always a temptation to eat food quickly. This is particularly true when there is a lot of food on offer. But, this is something that can lead to overeating. It can take a while for your brain to realise that you are full. But this time, you might have consumed a lot more than you really needed to.

So, what should you do on special occasions? You should slow down and take your time. This can be more enjoyable, as well as help with digestion. What’s more, it is going to stop you from going overboard and eating too much.

Choose Smaller Portions

They always say that you should have everything in moderation. Indeed, this is a good rule and something you should try to remember when it comes to a special occasion. There might be a lot of food on offer that you want to try. So, in order to do this, make sure you are reducing the portion sizes of what you are eating. This is going to allow you to enjoy everything but without eating too much of it. You can also feel less guilty about what you are consuming.

The best way to eat smaller portions is to be mindful of how much food you are putting on your plate. When you are tempted to take more of some food, think about it first and regret another portion.

Ensure You Are Hydrated

If you are busy getting ready for a special occasion, you might not realise that you have become dehydrated. This can be from rushing around and completing tasks or simply because you have not been thinking about the amount of water you are consuming that day. Either way, dehydration can be something that leads to overindulgence.

There are a few reasons why you want to ensure you are hydrated before an event. When you have not had enough water, you can often confuse this with feeling hungry. This means that you can consume more food. In addition, if you have alcohol, you might feel the effects faster, which can lead to drinking and eating more too. So, make sure you drink plenty of water before the special occasion. Plus, this might allow you to feel fuller.