Here at ActiveForever, we’ve put our best people on the case and you won’t believe what we’ve discovered. It turns out you are not the only one craving comfort foods this season. So feel free to shelve that guilt along with that sassy two-piece swimsuit.

After all, this is the time of year to be joyous. Your waistline should never stand in the way of that.

So what’s the origin of all this overeating?

According to the pros, a small percentage of the population suffers from SAD.

No kidding, right?

It’s actually a little more complicated than you might think, however. SAD stands for “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” which causes anxiety and depression. We all know full well that these feelings have a proven correlation with the frequency in which we reach for the cookie jar.

Then there’s the subject of genes. No, not the ones that look cute with your boots, I mean the other kind. Just like that sonorous snoring or that uni-brow, we can blame our heightened affinity for heavier foods on genetics. Our ancestors typically had a heck of a time staying fed during the cold season, so rich foods were like gold. That tendency is still, and perhaps always will be, encoded into our DNA.

Finally, there is the unavoidable fact that the thought of filling up on a cold salad as you are bulking up on insulated clothing just seems… well, wrong.

So what do you do?

Well…

You substitute. You may not want to eat a salad, but what about a hot plate of steamed veggies? I personally love steamed broccoli… like, love love. We’re getting serious. You can also cook veggies and throw them into a stew or soup as long as it’s not cream based.

Always bake instead of fry, and replace fatty staples like sour cream with Greek yogurt. Instead of a loaded baked potato, try a sweet potato. Go easy on the butter, or use a healthier butter substitute.  Use whole wheat flour in baked goods and get creative with desserts.

Think baked apples with cinnamon and walnuts or sugar free pudding with light whipped cream. Yum.

We found a great recipe from skinnytaste.com

Also, keep moving. Exercise not only combats the blues but it burns calories and curbs hunger. Just a quick session of sit-ups or push-ups can do wonders for your self-esteem and your entire season.