1. As always, plan your meals ahead of time. If you are eating at home, this is even easier. If you are eating out and feel comfortable enough, find out what is on the menu and make your choices ahead of time. *The general rule is: one plate with one serving of protein (or a combo of two), one (small) serving of starch (unless you’re having challah), and lots of vegetables. Dessert can be a fruit (fruit salad, sugar-free compote, low-calorie ices, etc.).
  2. Eat breakfast every single morning. Many people are tempted to skip this meal and “save up” their calories for the other meals, but this only backfires! Eating a good healthy breakfast will stabilize your blood sugar throughout the day and will make you less likely to overeat at the actual meals.
  3. Be a great guest or an overly gracious hostess! Make yourself busy serving, chatting, helping clear the table, etc... Anything that keeps you from sitting at the table for very long periods of time.
  4. Stock up on our cheesecakes. They are delicious, low calorie, and great for when everyone else is having “the real thing.”
  5. Cheat... in moderation! It’s okay to cheat a little, but follow these guidelines:

Make sure it’s worth it! Think your kids’ leftover noodles versus a spoonful of penne vodka... or cheesecake batter while you’re making it versus a (very small) piece of cheesecake for dessert. If you’re going to have it, make it worth it!

Plan for it! Spontaneous cheating is always worse than planned cheating. If you plan for it, you are in control of it. Plan ahead what it is that you want to have and stick to that.

No regrets! Have it and forget about it. Don’t talk about it, think about it, or, even worse, go off your plan completely because of it.

Make up for it! If you had a piece of cheesecake for dessert on the first day, take a brisk walk afterward or skip dessert that night or the next day. Treat it like a bank account where when you withdraw you need to deposit to keep the balance more or less even.

  1. Write it all down! As soon as Yom Tov is over, write down everything you ate. This will give you the accountability and may even make you think twice before having something.
  2. Walk it off! A brisk walk will not only burn some calories, it will also put you in the right mindset and get you away from the table/pantry/kitchen.

Remember: The goal on Shavuos (or any Yom Tov) is not necessarily to lose weight but to avoid gaining weight!

Sample Day:

Breakfast: Regular choice or TAP item

Lunch/Dinner: 1 slice of challah or a starch, plus one protein or a combination of two and vegetables.

Daily Budget (use in any order):

your fruits

2 snacks

1 treat

Good luck!

Alice Harrosh, is a nutrition counselor and manager at Nutrition by Tanya, with 10 locations plus a brand-new one in Queens. Alice knows that making healthy choices is not always easy, as she has been through the struggle herself. As an optimistic person, Alice’s favorite quote is: “It’s never too late to start eating better. If you have a bad morning, make it a better afternoon.” For more information on Nutrition by Tanya or the TAP (Tanya-approved products) food line, please visit www.nutritionbytanya.com or call 844-Tanya-Diet (844-826-9234). For daily tips and inspiration, you may follow @nutritionbytanya on Instagram.
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