If you do nothing else this holiday season, eat breakfast. If you can eat breakfast and then eat every 3 hours you can curb hunger, stabilize blood sugar, and decrease your sugar cravings and overeating. You don’t have to eat large meals, just try to have a carbohydrate and a protein source at each meal and snack to help you feel full and satisfied. If you know you will be eating a big lunch, make your breakfast and morning snack smaller but don’t skip them! 

Don’t feel like eating first thing in the morning?

Have something small and light! You can have a glass of 100% orange juice, skim milk, a piece of fruit, left over pizza, a granola bar, a handful of nuts or cereal, or a Greek yogurt. Any of these foods will jumpstart your metabolism.

Get into a routine of eating every 3 hours. Your daily meal times could look like this:

• 7 am: Breakfast
• 10 am: Snack
• 1:00 pm: Lunch
• 3:00 pm: Snack
• 6:00 pm: Dinner
• 8:00 pm Snack

Eat carbs and protein at all meals and snacks. Some ideas can include:

• 1/2 cup cottage cheese (protein) with 1 cup of high fiber cereal (carbs)  *Tip: Mix 1/2 cup high fiber cereal with 1/2 cup cheerios or other cereal to make it tastier
• 2 slices of whole wheat toast (carbs) with egg whites (protein) and veggie sausage (protein)
• 2 Tbsp Hummus (protein) with carrot, cucumber, or celery sticks (carbs)
• 8 oz Greek Yogurt (protein) with berries (carbs) or cereal (carbs) mixed in