Relax before the Holidays to Lose More Weight

By now, the holiday season is well underway. For too many of us, the season brings not only joy, but also stress. You can experience stress from pressures to overeat, holiday gift shopping, and busy schedules packed with holiday parties and rendez-vous with family and friends. Unfortunately, stress often leads to overeating and weight gain. Don’t let it happen this year!

A Leisurely Sunday Brunch

There is something magical about Sunday brunch. It is a time to relax with family or friends as you let last week’s stress go and you gear up for the coming week. The trouble with most Sunday brunch is the effect on your waistline. You are almost sure to drive up your blood pressure, blood sugar, and stress levels if you indulge in standard fare such as bagels and cream cheese, doughnuts and danishes, pancakes and hash browns, and bacon and eggs.

So how do you put together a Sunday brunch that relaxes you and keeps you on track? You can still have a delicious spread. We have a few suggestions for foods you can include to keep calories and carbs in check, while getting a good dose of protein to start your day.

• Protein Oatmeal with 100 to 120 calories and 15 grams of protein.
• Fresh fruit, such as berries or melon, with plenty of antioxidants and dietary fiber.
• Protein Pancakes in flavors such as classic, blueberry, or chocolate chip, with 15 grams of protein, served with all-natural turkey bacon.
• Vegetable or Veggie and Bacon Protein Omelets, with 15 grams of protein, and ready in minutes.

Some Comfort Food for Dinner

There’s nothing more powerful for wiping away the stress of the day and getting you ready for a good night’s sleep than a dinner with comfort foods. There is a catch, though: too much fat and sugar at dinner can keep you from sleeping as well at night, and that can add to your stress. Classics like mac and cheese, lasagna, and hearty chili can be off limits if you make them using standard recipes.

A better idea is to keep your comfort food high-protein and calorie-controlled. Protein Pasta Entrees such as Nacho Cheese Pasta, Lasagna, and Spaghetti and Meatballs can hit the spot without hitting you with a load of carbs. Our Vegetarian Chili is healthy, hearty, and filling, and we even have Protein Entrees that can hit the spot if you are craving a Mexican or Asian-Inspired meal. For dessert, try freshly baked Protein Brownies with 120 calories and 15 grams protein, or Protein Cookies in your favorite flavors.