Healthy Eating on the Weekend

Sticking to a healthy eating plan isn’t always easy… especially on the weekend!  After all, when you’ve been good all week long don’t you deserve to indulge on the weekends?  Does that thought process sound familiar?  We’re all about indulging every now and then, as long as it’s kept in moderation.  Oh there’s that pesky word again- moderation.  Moderation truly is the key to eating a balanced diet.  Instead of eliminating those tasty treats that feel like a weekend guilty-pleasure, indulge in moderation all week long.

We’re not the only ones who think that eating healthy all weekend is a brag-worthy accomplishment.  Heather, from Run Eat Play, celebrated her weekend triumph, exclaiming “Take That, Weekend!”  She showed the weekend that’s she’s one tough cookie who cannot be cracked.  Not even ice cream temptations could bring her down.  Want to follow in Heather’s footsteps and be a weekend healthy eating warrior too?  Stick to these guidelines and you’ll be saying bye-bye to temptations, and hello to healthy eating all weekend long.

Weekend Healthy Eating Tips

• Eat at home:  Avoid those ginormous restaurant portion size, which can often include your entire daily recommended intake in one meal, by eating at home.  Eating at home also puts you in control of what goes into your food.
• Be a smart snacker:  Consuming small frequent snacks can often help avoid binge eating out of hunger, or turning to a sugar laden snack in desperation.  Some low-calorie, nutrient packed snacks worth considering include veggies with hummus, dried fruits, nuts, and Greek yogurt, to name a few.
• Work it out: Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a healthy eating tip, but the more physical activity you pack into your day, the more calories you burn!  Meaning you get to eat more. Just make sure that you replace those calories you burn with calories from nutrient dense foods.  Wouldn’t want to waste all that hard work for a few pieces of candy.
• Distract yourself: If you’re feeling a craving coming on, and it’s one that doesn’t fit into your healthy eating plan, do like Heather does and distract yourself.  You could read a book, take a walk, call a friend, or pretty much anything that will get your mind off of that craving.
• Relax: The week days are stressful enough!  Stress often induces food cravings, and unfortunately the foods people crave are not generally not considered healthy options.  Try to reduce your cravings by reducing your stress levels on the weekend.  Enjoy time with family, have an at-home spa day, or watch your favorite movie.

Run Eat Play is a blog written and maintained by Heather Holtz. Heather is one of Around the Plate’s Healthy Eating Champions and is a member of thePlate Community. As a Healthy Eating Champion, Heather shares her tips on finding a balance between food, fitness, and family fun. Find other healthy eating champions, nutrition experts, and recipe gurus on our community blog network.