7 Simple Strategies to Survive Christmas on a Keto Diet
/You can totally stay keto (or mostly keto) on Christmas, at office parties, and holiday potlucks. The cool thing is YOU get to decide your own keto holiday guidelines. In this post I'll share 7 strategies to survive Christmas (or Thanksgiving or a vacation) while eating keto.
7 Simple Strategies to Survive Christmas on a Keto Diet
“The cool thing about being a keto minimalist is YOU get to make your own holiday keto rules. ”
1 - Set keto goals for the holiday season.
The cool thing about being a keto minimalist, or really about being a grown ass ADULT, is YOU get to make your own holiday keto rules.
Do you want to stay strict keto? Do you want to have occasional carb ups, treat meals or treat days? Do you want to continue losing weight, or just maintain over the holidays?
Action Step: Grab a notebook or the notes app on your phone and WRITE DOWN your goals for the holiday season.
When you set your keto Chrismas goals, keep your WHY front and center. Remember WHY you are eating keto. Maybe it’s to lose weight, maybe it’s to control your blood sugar, or maybe it’s to keep the carb cravings away. Focusing on your WHY will help you when the going gets tough.
2 - With your goals in mind, create a simple strategy for parties, potlucks, restaurant meals, and Christmas dinner.
In my Keto Restaurant Guides I talk about making a simple plan in advance of restaurant meals or special occasions. It just takes a second to do, BUT it puts you in control.
Making decisions in advance allows you to choose how strictly keto you will eat at an event. Going in with a plan is much different from hitting the office party, seeing an elaborate display of Christmas cookies and, in that moment, deciding “f*ck it, I’m having cookies.”
You can have cookies, or not have cookies. It’s up to you. But make that choice before you see the buffet table and your cravings take over.
I make a keto strategy every time I face a holiday party or restaurant meal and I recommend you do the same, because each situation is different.
Here are 3 strategies you can use for Christmas or any special occasion:
Eat straight up keto. This means you will eat a high fat, low carb, moderate protein meal. Just like you do most of the time at home.
Eat a keto meal, but have a few bites of higher carb foods you really want. If you can control yourself around carbs, it’s OK to plan a keto meal and also have a few bites of mashed potatoes and gravy, mom’s cranberry jello mold, or a tiny piece of pumpkin pie. A few bites of delicious high carb foods shouldn’t throw you out of ketosis, and your daily macros may still be spot on. But if you can’t stop at just a few bites, this strategy is probably not for you.
Have a carb up meal. Do you really, really want a creamy mug of eggnog with rum, whipped cream, and sprinkles? Or turkey with cornbread stuffing? If so, plan a carb up. Carb ups are a good strategy once you are fat adapted to enjoy carbs on occasion. Generally it’s good to choose healthy carbs, like roasted sweet potatoes, or high sugar fruits like bananas, but you can also treat yo’ self to junkier carbs… like a slice of fruitcake or a piece of grandma’s marshmallow fudge.
(I learned about carb ups in the Happy Keto Body online program. If you want to learn more about carb ups and tailoring keto to suit YOUR unique body and needs, check it out: HAPPY KETO BODY)
3 - Find keto versions of your favorite Christmas or holiday recipes.
You can find keto-friendly versions of almost ANY Christmas food! Just google “keto stuffing” or search for “keto Christmas cookies” on Pinterest.
Some recipes will look and taste just like the originals, and you might find a few duds. But it’s worth it to explore keto alternatives if you enjoy cooking!
I love this keto holiday eBook that has over __ recipes including Keto Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Eggnog Pudding, and Gingerbread Poke Cake. It even has classic Thanksgiving and Christmas menus to make things super simple. Check it out here: The Keto Holiday Cookbook
4 - Bring a keto appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert to potlucks and parties.
If your special occasion holiday strategy is to eat keto or mostly keto, and you’re not in charge of the menu, bring an appetizer or side dish to share. If your hostess is someone like my mom who doesn’t like surprises, feel free to ask in advance, but most people love when you bring a dish to share.
One caution…. if you’re bringing a keto dessert that contains artificial sweeteners, don’t keep that a secret. Some people - like me! - are really sensitive to artificial sweeteners and you don’t want there to be any unpleasant surprises.
5 - Focus on all types of self-care during the holidays.
Having Christmas keto goals is a great way to honor your body and your commitment to good health. But since the holidays can sometimes be extra busy or stressful, be sure to make other forms of self-care a priority too.
Here are some self-care practices to boost your mind, body, and spirit:
exercise
meditation
7 or more hours of sleep each night
schedule a manicure and/or pedicure
calming rituals like taking a hot bath and using scented moisturizers
journaling
take a nap
get a massage
grab a coffee and read a book in your favorite coffee shop
have a girls’ (keto) lunch
limit your social media
take a walk and listen to your favorite music or an uplifting podcast
chill out with Netflix or your favorite TV show
Schedule some of these (or other) self-care activities into your week!
6 - Let go of keto perfectionism and embrace your inner Keto Minimalist!
Remember YOU always have control. You get to decide your keto Christmas guidelines. It’s your choice to eat, or not eat, pecan pie. It’s up to you if you stay strict keto for the holidays, or if you loosen up the (reindeer) reins, so to speak.
Use this holiday season as a learning experience and don’t beat yourself up no matter how off track you might get. Instead ask yourself “What can I learn?” “What would I do differently next year?”
And also be very mindful of the times you did stick to your plan and your keto diet. Celebrate all the successes!
7 - Remember, Christmas isn't all about the food. Focus on loved ones, traditions, and non-food celebrations.
It’s easy to focus on the holiday food because many dishes we only see once a year. And we may have beautiful memories surrounding a certain dish. But Christmas and the winter holidays is more than just what we eat. Tune in to the people around you and enjoy their company. Relive some of your favorite Christmas traditions and create new ones.
I hope you found these 7 tips to surviving Christmas on a keto diet helpful. If you have tips to make the holiday season keto-friendly, please share in the comments.
Wishing you a joyous, and healthy, holiday season!
—The Keto Minimalist
For more tips how to stay keto during holidays, check out these posts:
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