4 Tips To Stay Healthy and Happy During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is an exciting time for most people. It’s a time to connect with family and friends, exchange gifts, travel and celebrate.
But here’s the catch! It’s easy to let our guard down and overindulge. Turkey dinners, short bread cookies, homemade fudge and spiked eggnog are among the holiday favorites. Unfortunately, they can easily knock us off our regular routines and cause us to put on a few unwanted pounds. Though we absolutely should enjoy these holiday treats we need to be on our guard.
Let me suggest some tips which will allow you to have your cake and eat it to:
1. Taste Everything, Eat Nothing
Since there are so many options to choose from during the holidays it’s easy to get carried away. Why not limit yourself to 2 or 3 bites of all the foods you want to try. At the end of the evening you will feel satisfied but not over stuffed. You will also feel pleased that you were able to sample everything you wanted to eat without worrying about your waistline. Everything in moderation is a good rule of thumb during the holidays. Afterwards you will feel proud of yourself that you were able to maintain your self-control.
2. Eat Well At Home
The holiday season is full of opportunities to overindulge. Most homes are filled with the aroma of fresh baked pastries and candy. These treats have an uncanny way of finding their way to the office and to our neighborhood parties. These delicious desserts are very tempting. This is why it’s important to limit the number of such indulgences at home. Re-gift that extra box of chocolate or put some of the excess baking in the freezer for another time.
Stay disciplined. I know! I know! Easier said than done. But give it a try. Remind yourself to maintain your regular nutrition routines at home. There are many soups and stew recipes online that are comforting, warming and nutritious. They are simple to prepare and an ideal comfort food on a wet or snowy winter’s day. You can also find many healthful holiday treat recipes online to bring to the office or party. They are so delicious nobody will know that they are healthy, but you!
3. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Almost all the holiday parties you attend will have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages available for your consumption. Unfortunately, many alcoholic beverages are very high in calories. So pace yourself, savor your drink and limit yourself. You can also opt for a low calorie drink. Alcohol consumption also lowers your inhibitions. Normally you would say “no” to that extra piece of cake but with a few drinks under your belt you now have a different idea of what is okay. Limiting alcohol will ensure that you are ready to continue your exercise routines in the morning. It will also motivate you to return to you healthy eating routines.
4. Take The Focus Off Food
There is no doubt about it eating is an important and enjoyable part of our festive celebrations. But this is not the only thing. Consciously, decide to switch your focus to other things that don’t revolve around food. Getting together with a group of friends to go to a play or work on a holiday craft is a fun way to celebrate. Check out your local events calendar and find out what’s going on around the city. Or take a walking tour of the local neighborhood and enjoy the brightly decorated houses or exhibits with friends and family. Why not get involved in the community by volunteering to help the less fortunate. The holiday season can be a difficult for so many families. You will not only feel rewarded but can you will come away feeling very grateful for what you have. After all the holiday season is primarily about giving.
