THE BIG STORY

Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Feasts Without the Guilt

The holidays are fast approaching—the time of year filled with the ones you love and the food you love. The holidays are a chance for students to go home for a short break from microwavable and cafeteria meals for some quality home cooking. For some, this may be a sigh of relief, for others it may be a frightening idea to be confronted with all their favorite holiday foods, in an unlimited supply, once again.

Struggling with weight is a prevelant issue in America today, and it is directly affecting college students. We’ve all heard of the freshman 15, the weight college students can put on during their first year of college. Juggling a healthy diet among all the other responsibilities, grades, work, organizations, clubs and social life, can be challenging.

When the phrase “eating disorders” is thrown around, most people tend to think of bulimia or anorexia, leaving binge and compulsive eating out of the picture, when these last two are becoming just as much as an issue than the prior. Now with the holidays approaching quickly, Chris Blackburn, a CAMPUSPEAK speaker on body image and eating disorders, shares ways for students to keep their healthy eating habits in check during this time of indulgence.

Tip 1: Eating is a way of life
“The first mistake a lot of people make is using the term ‘diet’. Diets are a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Eating is a way of life and you have to think of it in that way. If you are going to start a lifestyle eating change, what better time than during the holidays to challenge yourself with the situations you’ll be in,” says Chris.

Tip 2: Share desserts
The holidays are all about indulgence. Turning down offered food is frowned upon and eating until you’re stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey is encouraged. Whether you’re weakness is seconds on mashed potatoes and gravy or loading up on desserts, Chris reminds students to be self-aware of their eating habits and the choices that they’re making. If desserts are your food of choice, ask a friend or family member to share a few sweets with you—splitting is a great way to try everything without over indulging. 

Tip 3: Put away the elastic pants!
“Setting yourself up for failure before the meal has even begun is not a good thing! Part of your holiday game plan should not be to feel sick after the meal. Put on some nice clothes and promise yourself that you will end the day not feeling guilty. If nothing else, you’ll feel better about yourself and get lots of compliments for being the best dressed at the party,” says Chris.

Tip 4: Stay active during the holidays
While the holidays are a time to leave school behind, temporarily, and enjoy being home with people you enjoy, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave yourself behind too. Chris encourages students to stick with the physical activity they partake in during the school year, and to continue that while they’re home. You may have time invested in the gym, play on a sports team or simply throw the football around with friends from time to time—bring that energy home with you and discover fun ways to stay active during the holidays.

“Sign the family up for a 5k Turkey Trot, or schedule the first ever family football game. Starting the day with a physical activity can keep you on task for the rest of the day,” says Chris.

In Chris’ keynote, One Size Fits Most, he aims to help students understand that each person is fighting their own battle in life and that judgment towards others never helps the situation. You never know what someone may be going through, no matter what kind of body image or eating issues they may be dealing with. During his keynote, Chris will give students an insight into what his thought process is in different scenarios—whether at a fast food establishment or simply at home for big celebrations. One Size Fits Most is filled with lessons Chris learned while a contestant on The Biggest Loser, and he then teaches audiences to be accepting of others, to be bold in setting goals, to be demanding with regard to quality of life and to be conscious of how your community affects your choices.

Tip 5: Put a healthy twist on traditional holiday foods.
“Thanksgiving was about four weeks before my season finale of The Biggest Loser and after already losing 100lbs by that point, there was no way I was going to let the holiday ruin my success. However, I still wanted a traditional meal. I asked the The Biggest Loser nutritionist some good alternatives and I ended up writing a dressing recipe that I still use five years later. I use whole wheat and pumpernickel bread as the base along with big chunks of celery and onion and then mix in cooked pears and turkey sausage. Throw in some spices and low-sodium chicken broth and bake. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was made with angel tears and blessed by David Hasselhoff. Better yet, I don’t get negative feelings from eating it!”

Download a copy of this recipe by clicking HERE.

Visit campuspeak.com/blackburn to learn more about Chris and his available keynotes that are perfect for body image, eating disorder, first year experience or wellness programming.