Now that we are firmly planted in the holidays, you will probably be inundated with treats as gift.  When you are working towards a healthy lifestyle, it may feel like the person giving you the treat is trying to sabotage your efforts.  That’s very rarely the case.  Full disclosure: I give treats for the holidays.  I make chocolate truffles and French macarons.  Yes, these treats are not healthy.  But, have you ever met someone who eats 100% healthy?  Neither have I.  I think there are more people like the lyrics of “Junk Food Junkie” by Larry Groce than there are perfectly healthy eating people.  If you’re too young to know this song, here are the lyrics:

Read “Junk Food Junkie” by Larry Groce on Genius 

I don’t believe we need to hide out at midnight eating junk food, or insulting our friends and relatives by refusing their treats.  Unless they are trying to give you something that you are allergic to, you don’t have to swear off treats for good.  If you go wild and eat with reckless abandon during the holidays, the average person will gain just over 1 pound according to Helander, Wansink, & Chieh (2016).  The more surprising finding was that it takes about 5 months to get back to normal.   What does that mean for you?  When you get treats, eat them sparingly.  When I make treats for others, I keep the not-so-pretty items for myself.  However, I also know how may calories the items are and I work them into my diet accordingly.  If you didn’t make them, just go easy.  Have one.  Refrain from stuffing yourself silly.  You can also share them if you want to get them away from you.  Very few people will refuse a treat.  

The bottom line, relax about treats.  Don’t think because you are working on your new healthy lifestyle that these treats are bad.  Just be smart and have a little, and maybe this will finally be the year you weight stays right where it is.