Holiday Weight Loss Tips: Food Gifts & Leftovers

The holidays are here and I’m here with some holiday weight loss tips for this time where we become inundated with food gifts, and leftovers, leaving some of the biggest holiday temptations right in your own home! Whether it’s the leftovers from the holiday party you hosted, the cookies your real estate agent left on your doorstep, or the gingerbread house your mom dropped off for the kids, excess food and treats end up at home much more frequently during the holidays. 

Have a plan for handling leftovers and treats at home. To stay on track, make it a habit to get rid of food gifts & leftovers! 

It’s never really indulging in a holiday treat or meal that gets you. It’s continuing to eat these things for the days and weeks to follow that does! 

When it comes to your holiday leftovers, pack up what you can for your guests to go home with and toss the rest. 

Think it’s a waste of money? The money has already been spent. Eating the leftovers won’t get the money back. 

Other people in your family like the leftovers? Pack up a “portion” for them and put it in an out-of-direct view place in the fridge. Hopefully, you will not eat that one slice of your child’s favorite cake you saved for them. 

When it comes to food gifts, there are a number of ways to share the love.

1. Take it to the office and let the piranhas at it. My husband took a ton of cake pops and other desserts to his office after our Hanukkah party last year and he said it was all gone in a matter of minutes!

2. Re-gift it! Take the cookies from the realtor over to your neighbor or better yet, leave them outside your door with a note for the Amazon delivery person. Regifting allows you to spread happiness and stay on track.

3. Donate it to a local community organization or food pantry. I’ve noticed there are lots of organizations collecting things for Christmas for families in need right now. 

4. If need be just throw it out! And don’t feel bad because ditching it does not discount the kind intentions behind the gift. 

If you don’t have it in the house, it’s not there for you to eat. End of struggle.

I share this holiday weight loss tip year after year…
Stop relying on willpower. 
Instead, arrange your environment so you don’t have to.

The key is to keep it moving! Get leftovers and food gifts out of the house as soon as possible. 

As I always say, BETTER IN THE TRASH THAN ON YOUR ASS or thighs or belly!