As we approach the holidays, the lights go up and the cravings hit. It’s the open season for cookies and treats and cake and champagne. When you’re on the keto diet, how do you resist it all? And do you really have to?
The holiday season can get really busy and because of this, many persons lose track of their diet and exercise. Polls show that most adults gain at least 1 pound between November and January.
Now this is completely understandable, given all the events that happen during that period. If you’re normally excited about all of the festivities, it’s going to take an effort to hold back on the food and drinks.
Here are some tips on how to stay on the keto diet during the holidays.
Decide If You Want to Stay on Keto 100%
This will be easier to do if you’ve been on the keto diet for a while.
If you decide to press pause on the keto diet, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it definitely does not mean that you should overindulge.
As a matter of fact, it’s a good idea to follow the general low carb diet/keto principles for the majority of the time. That way, when you have an event or special occasion, you can enjoy it without feeling guilty.
Related: How To Avoid Weight Gain During The Holiday Season
If you decide that you want to stay on the keto diet 100% of the time during the holidays while celebrating with everyone else, here are some tips for success.
Make a Game Plan For Special Occasions
Between October and January, there are a lot of celebrations including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Unfortunately, this is where it’s easy to mess up. When you’re having a good time with family and friends, it’s hard to track how much you’ve eaten and how many carbs are on your plate.
However, there is a way to enjoy these occasions without making it obvious that you’re on a diet.
- Stick to Protein And Vegetables
This is usually the safest bet when you’re dining out with no control of the menu. These are the healthier options that will keep you full.
- Avoid Fruity Cocktail Mixes
Most cocktails include sugar and other questionable ingredients so you want to avoid them in order to stay in ketosis.
Here’s a list of pure alcohol that you can consume on the keto diet. These contain zero carbs.
- Whiskey
- Brandy
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
Adding tonic to these will boost the carbs to 16g per serving. For added flavor, you can use soda water and lime instead.
Related: Keto, Coffee, and Cocktails
- Eat in Moderation
The easiest way to do this is to use a smaller plate. Our instinct is to fill a plate that we are given. Using a smaller plate helps to keep portions in check.
On the other hand…
If you are hosting an event, then this works in your favour.
It’s much easier to create keto recipes that everyone can enjoy, even persons who aren’t on the keto diet. For starters, here’s a Keto Diet Menu for Thanksgiving that you can use.
Here’s a collection of keto cookbooks that include dinner and dessert recipes. They are all under 5g carbs per serving so you can even have seconds without worrying about the macros.
For a full review of these keto cookbooks, read this article because they will make your life a lot easier.
Stock up on Low Carb Treats
Treats and desserts are a part of the traditional holiday celebrations. Because regular recipes are filled with sugar and processed carbs, it’s better to create or purchase keto treats to stay in ketosis.
Here’s a keto cookbook that has 30 delicious keto dessert recipes.
Here’s another list of keto treats and desserts that you can purchase, including candy for Halloween.
Related: A Complete Guide To Baking On Keto
Get Your Keto Diet Meal Plan
The holiday season is the busiest season of the entire year. It’s a bit more challenging to stay on top of your exercise and diet.
This is why it’s better to keep things as simple as possible.
Get a keto meal plan (and easy recipes) delivered to your email on a weekly basis from the awesome team at Tasteaholics.
Click Here for Weekly Keto Meal Plans
Exercise
This is a great way to stay in shape and lose any additional pounds. If you normally exercise, then sticking with your routine is a great idea.
If you don’t exercise, then you don’t have to wait until the New Year to start searching for a gym. Get a headstart during the holiday season.
Final Word
The holiday season is a time for celebration with family and friends. Food is one sure way of celebrating but it doesn’t mean that you have to pause your weight loss goals.
You can decide to stay on the keto diet and enjoy the celebrations with these tips. For more insight, learn how to avoid weight gain during the holiday.