Fill the Wedding With Love, Not Calories

By Donna Stark

I was always been under the impression that wedding season occurred in the summer, but honestly, I have been to more winter weddings this year than summer weddings in the past several years. Maybe it's because I live in the Southwest and summers are the worst here. I have yet to find a bride that enjoys having her pictures taken in the scorching heat, so weddings at this time of the year make sense. But regardless of where you live, winter weddings are definitely trending and can be so very magical. The problem with them though, is that they are either mixed in, or come right after, the busiest holiday season of the year, and that means they are just one more event where you have to watch what you eat.

Weddings Don't Have to Add to Your Bulge

Love isn't the only thing present during the holidays and weddings ... food is too! And when winter weddings are back-to-back with the holiday festivities, you may start to feel the pressure of how much you really are indulging. It's hard to turn down all of the delicious treats and sweets at weddings, so here are some helpful tips on how to be more mindful with what you eat at them.

• Eat beforehand - Eating a small meal or snack before the wedding can help curb those hors d'oeuvre binges that many of us fall prey to. Keep it light if you still want to enjoy some of the food at the wedding, but enough to fill you up so that you aren't starving when you arrive.
• Steer clear of the unhealthy appetizers - Avoid eating too much of anything that has a glaze or sauce on it, such as wings and meatballs, and choose raw vegetables or charcuterie boards instead.
• Fill your plate with healthy, whole foods - Choose to fill your plate with lean proteins and plenty of vegetables, ask for sauces and salad dressings to come on the side, and limit your servings if there is an open buffet.
• Watch what you drink - Water should be your main beverage, but if headed to the bar, stick to the basics to avoid consuming too much sugar and too many calories in those custom-made drinks.
• Have a bite of cake - You can't skip out on the wedding cake, but you most certainly can share it if you want to avoid those extra calories! And if the wedding offers a candy table as well? Skip it and leave it for the children.

Maintaining Your Healthy Habits

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the delicious food at a wedding as long as you enjoy it in moderation. Remember, you can still have fun while maintaining those healthy habits you have committed yourself to. So go ahead! Have a nibble or two and then get on out to the dance floor!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Marcos, Calif.