Girls Scouts’ Guide to Eating Healthy During the Holiday Season

Being thin and staying in shape are issues that girls face everyday. What girl doesn’t compare herself to the models and stars that she sees in magazines and on TV? A recent study by the Girl Scouts of the USA’s Girl Scout Research Institute indicates that 57% of girls have fasted, went on diets, used food substitutes, or smoked cigarettes to lose weight. Twelve percent of girls have resorted to extreme measures such as diet pills, vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics. Half of girls ranging in ages 11-19 get less than 2/3 of the nutrients needed for normal growth and good mental performance, because girls are skipping meals in order to lose weight.

With the holiday season, approaching the thought of weight loss and dieting will be on the minds of many girls. Dieting is especially difficult while being surrounded by candy canes and gingerbread houses.

“ During the holiday season there is the tendency to over eat,” said Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “There are many ways that girls can continue to eat healthy during the holiday season and still enjoy themselves. Girls should concentrate on eating a variety food groups while being aware that portion control is key to weight control. ”

The Girl Scouts of Nassau County offers the following suggestions to help keep the extra pounds off during the holiday season:

*Eat a light meal or snack containing protein – including nuts or cheese -- before going to a holiday party. This will lessen the temptation to over eat.

*Watch less television and participate in one of the following activities with your family: take a walk, play basketball or even rake the leaves or shovel snow in your yard.

* Do not eat everything that is on the table. There will always be leftovers, which you can enjoy during the week.

* If it is a buffet, do not stand near the food table. This will create less of a temptation to continuously eat the food.

* Use a smaller plate when eating at parties. It will help keep your portions small.

“ Many girls feel that cookies or chocolate bars cannot fit into a well-balanced diet. This is false,” said Ms. Ceravolo. “Everything in moderation can fit into a well balanced diet.”

By following these suggestions, Girl Scouts believes that you can enjoy a healthy and happy holiday season.

Girl Scouts is a contemporary movement that helps girls discover fun, friendship and the power of girls together. With more than 22,000 girls growing strong, Girl Scouts of Nassau County is big and keeps growing every day. The organization seeks to give all girls in Nassau County the opportunity to realize their full potential and become better prepared for the future. Girl Scouts of Nassau County: Big, Contemporary, We change lives.

For more information on the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. contact Donna Rivera-Downey, Director of Marketing, at 516/741-2550 ext. 260.