Riviera Grill Helps The Calorie-Conscious With Holiday Meals Holiday Health

Dec. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- With Christmas merrily on its way, we are faced with yet another occasion where our tables will be loaded down with food. As the diet-conscious among us very well know, much of this food is not great for us. Riviera Grill, which has always stood among the top tier in Brooklyn restaurants, has a menu which often reflects a healthy lifestyle and is always loaded with tasty specials. Now Rivierais looking to help out the calorie-counters among us during this Holiday season.

For starters, both cooks and food lovers alike know that a great way to avoid over-eating starts with getting a grip on portion sizes. The chefs at Riviera have some great rules of thumb to determine an appropriate portion size that is easier to follow than you might think. If you’re eating rice or pasta, your portion should be no larger than your fist; for all foods that are high in fat—like those cheese logs you see so much of during Christmas—you should have no more than an amount the size of your thumb. Then for proteins, try not to have a portion that is larger than your palm.

You can also prevent over-eating and packing on unwanted pounds by doing some preventative planning before mealtime. This includes snacking on nuts before the meal so you aren’t so ravenous when you set down to the table. And while munching on those snacks, never exceed a portion that breaks 70 calories. Another tactic you can sue here is to drink a few glasses of water throughout the day before the meal. This will make you feel full when you are tempted by those unhealthy foods later on.

Another tactic recommended by Rivera chefs is to try to have your meals in well-lit rooms. Studies have shown that people tend to eat more food, especially foods we are trying to avoid, in rooms that are dimly lit. So while dinner by Christmas tree lights might seem festive, it might not be such a good idea for those that are watching their calorie intake.

If you happen to be in an open-table or buffet sort of situation, you can keep of the extra pounds by placing a strategy on your food. For instance, before even considering those meatballs, pies or cheese logs, hit up the veggies first. Next, pile on the healthy proteins. The pan is to be so full by the time the “junk food course” comes around that you won’t have room for it.

Of course, there’s no sense in allowing yourself to ruin Christmas by over-thinking what you eat. But if you can keep these strategies in mind before each event where there will be food, you’ll find yourself in great shape to kick off the New Year.

And if you want something unique for a holiday meal, check out Riviera Grill, Brooklyn restaurants best when it comes to great Russian and traditional foods.