Holiday Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Tips
The smell of sweet holiday aromas may begin to trigger temptation. Why is it that weight gain and stress seem to be unavoidable every holiday season? Whether you’re attending business gatherings, a holiday party with friends, or simply enjoying festive moments with family, eating large portions of delicious foods is often the way of celebration. This is an obvious problem for those who are concerned about their health and weight status. Here are a few healthy tips to help tackle these holiday temptations and stressors. These tips will help you to manage eating, so you won’t face the New Year with an extra 5-15 lbs. This is especially an issue during this year of Covid Pandemic, with more emotional eating, stress eating, and comfort eating going on. EVERYONE is subject to these issues the world over.
1) Don’t skip meals!
Before any holiday event, eat a small meal/snack prior to attending. Going to an event on an empty stomach may cause overeating and hinder your ability to make healthy choices. Don’t starve yourself all day saving the calories for 1 huge binge – this strategy works against your metabolic rate.
2) Beware of the beverages
Holidays are often filled with alcoholic and sugar-loaded drinks. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your savory glass of yearly eggnog. After you have treated yourself to one half of a glass, move on to low-calorie drinks such as coffee or unsweetened tea, or my favorite: a glass of sparkling mineral water with a shot of cranberry or pomegranate juice.
3) Skip chips and cut back on the dips!
When compared to common snacks such as cookies, chips/dip, and crackers/cheese; the selection of fruits & veggies provide more nutrients, contains fewer calories, and help fill up your stomach. Make veggies and fruits the focus of your holiday table setting by getting creative and making them into easy to grab skewers or cutting them into fun shapes. Select hummus, salsas, yogurt, and guacamole over traditional dips. Try to also minimize consumption of candy, cookies, and dessert foods. THINK MODERATION with all holiday consumables.
4) Pay attention to portion sizes
Take a “taste“- size portion rather than a full portion, especially when there are many items to sample. Use a smaller plate. Eat slowly and enjoy the conversation & company rather than focusing on the food. This allows your brain to signal you are full before you overeat.
5) Release the stress
The holiday season is often a stressful season, EVEN MORE SO THIS YEAR OF 2020. Be sure to remember to take time to yourself throughout the day to sit back and relax. Whether it’s enjoying your favorite holiday symphony while sipping your morning coffee, going for a walk, or simply taking a few moments to be in prayer, time taken to yourself will be beneficial for your health throughout the rest of the day.
6) Incorporate Exercise
Exercise not only aids in stress reduction but also helps maintain weight. Thirty (30) minutes of moderate aerobic activity DAILY, is recommended for adults, by health professionals. When you exercise, you’re not only benefiting your body physically but also mentally. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exercising releases endorphins, which act to decrease tension, elevate mood, and improve self-esteem and sleep! Daily exercise can be achieved easily and includes activities as simple as dancing, playing ball in the backyard, taking a brisk walk, or even gardening! Any activity is better than none. STAY ACTIVE! This daily movement/exercise is a key factor in keeping our immune system functioning optimally.
With COVID and FLU in full swing your best defense is a strong immune system. To do that make sure you EFFECTIVELY manage stress; minimize sugar, alcohol and processed foods consumption; get quality and adequate sleep; take your supplements, especially multi’s, Vit. D, Vit C, zinc, and herbal anti-microbials; exercise daily; maintain weight in a healthy range; get outside and appreciate nature; and BREATHE – deeply, while you think of all the GOOD things in life that you are grateful for.
HAPPY & HEALTHY HOLIDAYS TO YOU!