Instead, you can enter the new year feeling grateful, appreciative, and mindful of all of your food choices, leading to a healthier version of you.

Here are Keto Zone’s top 10 tips to eat mindfully during the holidays.

1. Eat Breakfast

Oftentimes we won’t eat breakfast in anticipation of a big meal. But this sets you up for failure.

Eating a healthy breakfast keeps you full, which means you’re less likely to overeat during the day. Drink a coffee with Keto Zone MCT Oil Powder to boost energy and satiation, and pair it with a recipe like Keto Zone Christmas Breakfast Casserole.

2. Don’t Graze

The giant table with 12 different, delicious appetizers leads everyone to graze around. As harmless as these snacks seem, we end up getting so caught up in the gathering we forget to pay attention to our plate!

Before we know it, we’ve chugged down more food than we can count and end up stuffing ourselves even more during the real deal meal.

Choose one appetizer, then drink water until it’s time to eat.

3. Slow Your Roll

We’re all guilty of inhaling our food, especially when we have eyes bigger than our stomach. Remember to take small bites, chew entirely (around 20-30 times), and put your fork down often; it’s not a race!

Take a sip of water in between bites and make conversation during the meal to help regulate your speed, too. Or, set a time frame: span out your eating between 20 to 30 minutes.

4. Are You Really Hungry?

Boredom and thirst can disguise themselves as appetite when you’re not hungry at all.

Before you dig into the leftovers, drink a glass of water and move to a different activity. If you’re still craving food, you’re probably hungry.

5. Skip TV Dinners

Nowadays eating in front of screens is the norm. But instead of focusing on your plate, you’re focused on the TV, which means you’re not paying attention to the taste and quantity of food.

Make sitting at the table a habit and avoid all electronic devices during meals. Mindful eating is about focusing on the enjoyment and satisfaction of food, and screens are huge distractions.

6. Pass Up Huge Portions

Holidays tend to glorify the overconsumption of food. To where if your plate is not overflowing, you’re not having a proper holiday meal. This isn’t true!

You can still enjoy a Christmas meal with correct portion sizes and healthy keto recipes. Keep in mind that if you have a large plate, you’re more likely to consume more calories, whereas a smaller plate is vice versa.

7. Leave the Clean Plate-Club

Remember being told as a kid you couldn’t leave the table until your plate was clean? Not only does this take important hunger cues out of the equation, but it also promotes overeating.

You don’t have to finish the entire plate. Eat until you’re full, then stop. It’s as simple as that!

8. Address Slip-Ups

One holiday slip-up, and suddenly you’re binging on a plate of Christmas cookies because “I’ve already messed up, so I might as well go all in.”

Instead of punishing yourself over some not-so-healthy holiday food, acknowledge your mistake and keep trucking on.

One bad treat isn’t going to ruin all of your progress but binging on a lot of it will!

9. Stick to Healthy Alternatives

Here’s the truth: humans don’t respond very well to hefty restriction. So, when we’re told we can’t make this recipe, eat that meal, or enjoy this dessert, we usually end up breaking and doing it anyway.

To counteract this, don’t limit yourself. Instead, substitute in healthy alternative recipes, like Delicious Frosted Keto Christmas Cookies and Superfood Spiced Keto Hot Chocolate.

This way you’re still enjoying Christmas treats just like everyone else!

10. Give Thanks

Incorporating gratitude before meals is the most powerful way to eat mindfully. Because when you appreciate the food in front of you, you’re more likely to go slow and savor it.

On top of that, studies show practicing gratitude can lower cortisol and decrease the risk of depression and chronic illness. (1)

Read Healthiest Holidays Ever: Gratitude, Optimism, and Peace During the Holidays to learn more about increasing gratitude!

Bottom Line

Make this holiday season the best one yet with a mindful mindset. Not only will you enjoy every single bite of keto food, but with the above tips, you’ll also set valuable food boundaries to carry into the new year.

Ready to burn fat, lose weight, and be the healthiest version of you in 2020? Click here to join the 21 Day Keto Zone Challenge along with hundreds of others. In 10 seconds or less, you’ll gain access to FREE recipes, articles, shopping lists, and videos for succeeding on Keto Zone.

The post How to Eat Mindfully This Christmas Season: 10 Tips to Food Freedom appeared first on Keto Zone® | Dr. Don Colbert, MD.

These Keto Zone Cranberry Orange muffins are hands down one of the best ways to start Christmas day, especially when topped with soft butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

As keto-friendly as can be, almond and coconut flour substitute out unhealthy wheat/white flours and keto sweetener outs unhealthy sugar.

You don’t even have to be on Keto Zone to enjoy, which is perfect for the whole family.

While you’re here, check out the 8 other healthy Christmas breakfast ideas below the recipe. Let the Christmas cooking begin!

Keto Zone Cranberry Orange Muffins

If coconut flour isn’t an option, use 3 cups of almond flour and only 3 eggs. Don’t forget to buy blanched almond flour instead of almond meal. Almond meal has a much finer consistency that can create less dense muffins. You can also use granulated monk fruit sweetener in place of swerve or sour cream in place of Greek yogurt.

Ingredients

4 large organic eggs, beaten

1/2 cup full-fat organic Greek yogurt

1/3 cup granulated swerve sweetener

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon orange extract

1 tablespoon orange zest

2 cups organic almond flour

1/4 cup organic coconut flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

3/4 cup fresh organic cranberries, lightly smashed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and fill muffin pan slots with liners.
2. Combine eggs, Greek yogurt, sweetener, vanilla extract, orange extract, and orange zest in a large bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute, or until combined.
3. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix for another minute. Using a spoon, stir in cranberries until fully incorporated into the batter. (If mixture is too dry, add 1 tablespoon water as needed.)
4. Spoon batter into each lined cup until about 2/3 full, then bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Best served warm.

Nutrition Facts

Yields: 12 muffins

Per 1 Muffin:

Calories: 84

Fat: 4.7 g

Total Carbohydrates: 6 g

Fiber: 2.9 g

Net Carbs: 3.1 g

Protein: 4.3 g

Recipe adapted from howtothisandthat.com

8 Other Healthy Christmas Keto Breakfast Ideas

Start off Christmas day with a hearty, healthy (and festive) breakfast with any of these 8 easy, family-approved recipes. Pick one, and Christmas morning can’t go wrong!

1. Keto Zone Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a classic Christmas breakfast, and thankfully, with this Keto Zone Cinnamon Rolls recipe, you won’t be missing out on tradition.

Instead of unnecessary carbs and sugars, you have homemade rolls, stuffed with cinnamon and butter, then coated with a sweet cream cheese glaze.

2. Keto Zone Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Casseroles are a holiday staple for a reason, and Keto Zone’s Christmas Breakfast Casserole doesn’t disappoint.

Garlicky sausage, rich cheddar cheese, and fresh broccoli load this casserole with plenty of healthy, low-carb foods.

3. Keto Zone Biscuits & Gravy

Who would’ve thought biscuits and gravy could have a keto version?

This Keto Zone Biscuits and Gravy Recipe lets you enjoy your favorite breakfast with yummy almond flour biscuits, tasty, high-fat gravy, and ketosis to boot.

4. Keto Zone Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

If you have any extra hydrolyzed collagen protein powder in your cabinet, Keto Zone Pumpkin Protein Pancakes are a must for Christmas morning.

These fluffy, spiced pancakes topped with a satisfying slide of butter ensure you leave the table feeling full and nourished. And you won’t even need syrup.

5. Keto Zone Chocolate-Covered Bacon

If there’s any day to eat chocolate for breakfast, it’s Christmas.

Keto Zone Chocolate Covered Bacon will be a guaranteed family hit, especially with that extra hint of keto-friendly cinnamon sugar mix.

Just cook the bacon, melt the chocolate, and dip!

6. Keto Zone Spiced Snickerdoodle “Oatmeal”

Christmas morning is all about eating dessert for breakfast, and this Keto Zone Spiced Snickerdoodle “Oatmeal” is the perfect medium for those looking to stay in ketosis during the holidays.

Instead of using high-carb oats, this recipe takes the high road with hemp hearts, flax meal, and chia seeds to rack up the fats and kill the carbs– all with that Christmas cookie flavor!

7. Keto Zone Christmas Fruitcake with Berries, Lemon, & Poppyseeds

You aren’t limited when it comes to baked goods on Keto Zone. Take Keto Zone Christmas Fruitcake for example.

With a few recipe adaptions, you have a delicious keto fruitcake made even better than before. The lemon, poppyseeds, and berries make will make a great pop for Christmas morning.

8. Keto Zone Coffee

Pair any of the recipes above with a Keto Zone Coffee, and you have a foolproof breakfast to keep you full and thriving on ketosis for the entire day.

The great part is that Keto Zone MCT Oil Powder comes in flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Hazelnut, and Chocolate, which means there won’t be any shortage of festivity in your cup of keto joe.

Bottom Line

Christmas morning should be enjoyed, even in the Keto Zone. And there’s no doubt that the above recipes can bring both positive Christmas and health results.

Follow Keto Zone on Instagram to be updated when all NEW recipes are posted!

The post Keto Zone Cranberry Orange Muffins & 8 Other Healthy Christmas Breakfast Ideas appeared first on Keto Zone® | Dr. Don Colbert, MD.

Whether you’re at the beach or in the snow, you can still stay on the Keto Zone diet without your own trusty kitchen. Use the tips down below as the ultimate guide to traveling on keto this Christmas.

1. Eat Before you Go

It’s always easier to eat better at home. So, before you head out the door, fill up on a large keto-friendly meal that will tie you over for as long as possible. For example, hardboiled eggs, bacon, and plain Greek yogurt with cream, nuts, and berries are great breakfast options to keep you full and satisfied.

Read Best-Ever Keto Zone Waffles and Breakfast Favorites for some other delicious ideas.

2. Pack Storable Keto Zone Meals and Snacks

Eating right on vacation calls for some preparation ahead of time, but it doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Just make some easily portable keto meals and snacks, pop them in a storage container, and take them with you on the plane or in the car.

Portable Keto Zone Meals:

• Quick and Easy Keto Zone Egg Salad
• Spicy Keto Zone Chicken Salad
• Large salad with toppings like chicken, avocado, cheese, hardboiled eggs, oil dressing, and other low-carb veggies
• Lettuce wraps with chopped chicken or turkey breast, cheese, and low-carb mayo
• Deli meat with cheese, cucumbers, and low-carb dressing
• Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice
• Apple Quinoa Detox Salad

Easy Keto Zone Snacks:

• Keto Zone Coconut Fat Bombs
• Crispy Keto Zone Kale Chips
• Celery sticks and nut butter
• Cashews
• Grain-Free Keto Granola Bars
• Keto Zone Shakes
• Keto Zone Guacamole and bell pepper slices

For even more ideas, shop the Quick and Healthy Keto Zone Cookbook. It includes everything you need and more to eating right on Keto Zone and makes a great Christmas gift!

3. Call Restaurants Ahead of Time

Before you leave, call potential restaurant choices at your destination and ask how they can accommodate you. Even though this might seem like a lot of work, it can help ease the stress of not knowing your options.

Usually, restaurants can serve up a chicken or steak salad, beef burger or chicken sandwich without the bread, and grilled/stir-fried veggies instead of rice or fries.

Keep an eye out for fried foods as they’re usually breaded and be picky with salad dressings as most of them can contain large amounts of sugar. Stick to what you know: no grains, legumes, root vegetables, or fruits (except for berries).

4. Drink Keto Coffee

Coffee already boosts your metabolism. But turning your regular cup of joe to keto amplifies the effects. Take MCT Oil Powder with you to add to your morning coffee, and it can help you stay full for longer, increase ketone production, and suppress appetite.

For even better versions, try Keto Zone Coffee or Dr. Colbert’s Keto Coffee. All of the ingredients are easy to pack or easy to buy when you arrive. Perfect!

5. Shop for Hotel Food

Almost all hotels carry a refrigerator in the room (some even have a full-on stove and oven), and chances are there’s either a grocery store, health food store, or farmer’s market nearby as well. This means you can easily cook up a keto-friendly bite to eat in your hotel room. Salad mixes, rotisserie chicken, full-fat yogurt, berries, cheese, avocados, and bacon are great keto foods to purchase to make an easy, low-carb meal.

Bottom Line

Don’t let travel plans kick you out of ketosis! If you stay committed, use the above tips, and bring Keto Zone supplements like MCT Oil Powder and Keto Zone Shakes, you can still enjoy your vacation while burning fat along the way. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate vacation?

The post How to Stay on Keto While Traveling this Christmas appeared first on Keto Zone® | Dr. Don Colbert, MD.