Support healthy weight with a balanced diet & an active lifestyle | Herbal Goodness

How To Maintain Healthy Weight During The Holidays

Because of the fast approaching holiday season, especially Thanksgiving we are all thinking about our waistlines and how we can manage them over the next couple of months. To maintain a healthy weight we need to remember three key concepts. One, portion size and moderation. Two, variety. Three, get moving!

Portion Control
One helping of pie is better than two. Just eat it slowly and enjoy it and you will feel so much better! Try taking a capsule or a tablespoon in the morning of papaya leaf extract for better digestion. Pick up a smaller plate and make yourself just have two bites of everything. Wait twenty minutes before thinking about a second plate. Drink lots of water before eating to help you not overeat. Sometimes our body craves sweets if we are dehydrated. Stay hydrated and it will help you with portion control and overeating. 

Read about the nutrients every vegetarian needs.

Variety, taste the rainbow
Make sure your plate contains at least 1-2 servings of something raw or al-dente. Sometimes we overeat and over consume due to the minerals and nutrients we are not getting from overcooked and over processed foods. If your family does not bring anything raw in the fruit and veggie department make sure you are the one bringing that dish. Salads, fruit platters, veggie platters, raw spring rolls, raw salsas, hummus all of these items will work. If your body is receiving the nutrients it deserves your cravings will be less. Think colorful vibrant raw food! Don't forget papaya is a digestion fruit but also contains antioxidants and beta-carotene. Eating these foods will help us all maintain a healthy weight during this season.

I like to move it move it
Walk walk walk! Get someone in your family to do some walking before and after you eat. Even if it's going outside to watch the kids make a thanksgiving fort! If we stuff our faces and don't stay active and then increase our alcohol and sugar content that is a recipe for disaster. It's no wonder that November - January is the biggest months for increased old and flu cases and other illnesses. This is the time to take a cup of tea with you on your walk to help break down the proteins of the smoked turkey you just ate! Staying active will help us to maintain a healthy weight during the holidays!

Using Papaya in Your Holiday Recipes
Last year I did something crazy! I added two tablespoons of papaya leaf liquid extract to my Thanksgiving Turkey Brine. Oh man! Was it SOOOOO delicious and guess what? It was the moistest, most tender melt in your mouth turkey I have EVER made. Everyone was happy and asking for the secret recipe! Make your brine as usual and just add 1-2 TBLS of liquid papaya leaf extract, you won't be disappointed. Try this one as well.

Papaya Recipe: Holiday Papaya Cider: 
1 papaya leaf tea bag per serving 1 cup of boiling water per tea bag 1 cinnamon stick per 10 cups (smaller pieces for smaller portions) 1-2 cloves 1 tsp maple syrup or agave. Boil water in a large sauce pot. Pull off the stove when starts to bubble. Add tea bags, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Let stoop 5-10 minutes. Add your syrup after to taste. Stir and strain. Serve in glass jar or pitcher when cooled and drink hot or chilled. Whipped Cream and sprinkle cinnamon optional.