Eat Before the Party
Eat before attending a holiday gathering. If you are hosting- eat protein before the party starts. This way, you don’t start drinking on an empty stomach. Make sure to have non-starchy raw vegetables as healthy snacks available. If you can eat vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, celery, radishes, cauliflower, greens beans, and cucumbers, to name a few without a dip, do so. It can stretch your carb budget. If you are attending a party, take raw vegetables with you in case chips, and dip is your only option. There are several benefits to eating fresh vegetables. It will not dramatically raise your blood sugars, and the fiber will be more filling, making it less likely to indulge in foods that will shoot up your blood sugars. If you tend to have a sweet tooth, you may also want to take low carb fruits with you like strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. These are some of the lowest carb options.
Choose a Lower Carbohydrate Drink
Avoid sweet sugary alcoholic drinks as they will be high in carbohydrates and will raise your blood sugar. If you like wine, five ounces of red wine is a lower carb option with four carbs per drink. If you prefer hard alcohol, 1.5 ounces of vodka, whiskey, or gin with a diet drink should have little to no carbs, beating alcoholic beverages with sugary mixers. Make sure to drink lots of water after every alcoholic drink. Limit your alcohol consumption as much as it is realistically possible.
Know-How Your Medication Affects Alcohol Consumption
If you are taking any medication, make sure you ask your healthcare professional about how alcohol impacts the efficacy of your medication. If you cannot have a conversation with your health provider, at the very least, google a reputable source, your medication name, and alcohol to see if there any side effects. You don’t want the memorable holiday event to be remembered by how ill you felt.
How you respond to your medication, food, and alcohol requires your healthcare professional’s advice. Everyone’s body chemistry is different. These are general tips. Always check in with your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet and medication.