These 6 things will help you stick to your diet even in a big winter storm

A woman enjoying the use of her Vibro-Slim, a vibrating slimming machine. (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images)

RICHMOND, Va. – People who set New Year’s resolutions and started new diets (lifestyle changes!) are about three weeks into it, and now a significant snow event is threatening the fragile balance many have found in their new regimens.

Those doing Whole30, Paleo, Dash, TLC, Atkin’s, South Beach, Jenny Craig, Volumetrics, Weight Watchers or the like can prevent binging or falling off their diets during bad weather by getting prepared now, experts say.

Prep now

“The best thing you can do is try to set yourself up for success, so don’t leave it for the last second,” said Nicholas Fischetti, a clinical dietician at VCU Medical Center. “Just because it’s a storm doesn’t mean everything has to go right out the window.”

The pre-snow, infamous dairy dash for milk, eggs, cheese and bread makes for good French toast, but those dieting need to look for alternatives.

The forecasted storm will bring heavy winds, along with heaps of snow and freezing precipitation, all which could result in big power outages. So not only do people have to plan to stick to their diet, they need to anticipate how to do it without electricity.

Fischetti suggested seeking out non-perishables high in protein, along with low-calorie items; “most fruits and vegetables will be good for a few days,” he said.

Breakfast

A breakfast recommendation includes items like turkey bacon, hard-boiled eggs, coconut yogurt and fruit. The turkey bacon can be cooked before the storm hits and stored in a container. If you still have power, just zap it in the microwave or revive it with a few minutes in the skillet.

Coconut yogurt is dairy free and more likely to be preserved in the event of power outages. Keeping milk on hand that is derived from almonds is not just lower in fat, but less likely to spoil and doesn’t have to be refrigerated right away. If using milk, chose skim options, not whole milk.

Lunch

For lunch, go ahead and prep some salad stuff now. To keep it interesting (based on your diet) add peppers, black or garbanzo beans and even some meat to the array of veggies. Prep some chicken or pull out a can of tuna to whip up a salad and serve with crackers or on top of lettuce.

“Get things canned without added sugar, or salt,” Fischetti said, and “stick to portion sizes on indulging foods.”

Snacks

While other shoppers snatch up potato chips and doughnuts, grab some unsalted snack nuts, Lara bars, and dried fruit or vegetables to munch on while watching Netflix all day (fingers crossed no power outages). Try carrot sticks with hummus if your diet allows. Find a salsa with no added sugar and dip plantains into it for a low-cal indulgence. Sunflower butter spreads mixed with coconut flakes may satisfy that snack urge.

“Again, portion control is everything,’ Fischetti said.

Hey everyone it's @meg_mcgrane back with a chili you will love as we head into fall. Why bison? That is because I actually prefer it to ground beef but as always, you can substitute beef into this recipe for an equally as delicious meal. #whole30 #whole30recipes Ingredients 2 lbs ground bison 1 sweet onion, diced 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup carrots, chopped 2, 12 oz containers of mushrooms, sliced 1 small can diced no-salt added organic tomatoes 1 large can crushed san marzano tomatoes 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup water or (compliant) beef broth 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon cumin, smoked paprika, thyme Instructions Pre heat oven to 375F Place sweet potato and carrot on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 20-30 minutes until pieces are soft. While veggies are roasting, sauté onion, garlic, and bell peppers until onion is translucent in a large stock pot or dutch oven. Add bison to the pot, crumbling into the pot so it breaks up, then add the dry seasonings and sauté until bison is cooked through and no longer pink. Next add tomatoes, mushrooms, and water/broth to the pot and bring to a simmer As soon as the roasting vegetables are soft, remove from the oven and add to the simmering chili Cover and continue to simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with guacamole or sliced avocado!

A post shared by Official Whole30® Recipes (@whole30recipes) on Sep 17, 2015 at 4:05pm PDT

Dinner

For dinner, prep a few things before the storm hits which can be served hot or cold – much of this is personal preference. Maybe you have access to a microwave because of a generator.

Consider prepping options like chicken to be served with baked white or sweet potato, or roasted root vegetables. Baked tofu will hold well and doesn’t need heat to be edible. A pot of healthy chili can be prepped ahead and heated for a healthy, warm meal.

Burn calories in the snow

Those itching to get to the gym may turn to shoveling snow if they want to burn calories.

Shoveling is considered a moderate activity that burns roughly 230 calories per 30 minutes, based on CDC data.  It could be a good opportunity to win bonus points by shoveling your neighbor’s driveway.

“Clearing off your car is good exercise for you,” Fischetti said.

Remember, go to the store now while there is a selection, and try snow day prepping with a different outlook. You don’t have to have dairy and sugar to survive a colossal storm.

Save your indulgence for hot chocolate after your shoveling session, but like the dietician recommended, use water or skim milk to mix it.

What’s your favorite healthy recipe? Share it in the comments.

Stay ahead of the coming winter storm, by clicking here for updates on the WTVR.com weather page.

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