Our top 10 healthy holiday tips
1. Avoid eating one big merry meal
It may sound ‘better’ to not eat all day in anticipation of eating your large holiday meal. However, not eating all day can send your body’s blood glucose levels and stress hormones to go outside normal levels. This can cause you to feel faint, get irritable, or even sick with a headache. This will also help so you don’t overindulge in one big meal. The best plan you can implement for yourself is to eat throughout the day.
2. Joyfully incorporate movement to the days
Find ways to be active throughout the holidays. It can be so convenient and easy to skip movement throughout the holidays as we sit and catch up with family and friends. However, finding ways to incorporate movement into these moments can be helpful for your body and your mind.
Some fun family movement ideas include:
· sledding down a neighborhood hill
· going for a walk and caroling
· doing a fun dance class to your favorite Christmas music
3. Don’t be a Grinch, and ask if you can bring a side vegetable
Sometimes it can be overwhelming and hard to plan for the holidays when you are attending another person’s home and you won’t know the whole menu. Plan to bring a vegetable you enjoy that can provide you with some ease. This will allow you to contribute to the meal, and it will also help you to eat something that you enjoy and feel good about eating.
4. Fill your plate Reindeer, Turkey, and Ham, but also with lots of fruits and vegetables!
It is important to have a well-balanced plate for these holiday meals. Incorporating the main protein, some fat, and some carbohydrates will make for a nice well-balanced meal. Each of these macronutrients provide their own function in our bodies so ensuring they are all on our plate is vital.
5. Brainstorm ways to help keep you jolly
Holidays are a time to be jolly and cheerful. However, holidays can also be stressful. Try to ensure that you are finding ways to give yourself that mental space for things you enjoy.
6. Enjoy your Gingerbread cookies or other favorite holiday treat, but in moderation
Each family has holiday cookie or treat recipes that have been passed down for many generations, making them delicious and irresistible. Take time to enjoy these special treats, but ensure that you are not overindulging in something that will cause you to have regrets later.
7. Cheers with water
One tip to not forget this holiday season is to have adequate water intake. Drinking water can be easily forgotten with the business of the holiday days, and can be easily replaced by other beverages, such as soda or alcohol. Ensure you are still getting good hydration, especially in dryer climates, higher elevations, and with alcohol or dehydrating beverages.
8. Consider some Vitamin D for Santa’s white belly
It can be very easy to forget our super important vitamins and minerals, as we get busy this time of year. Ensure that you are eating a variety of fruits and vegetables to meet these requirements as they help in so many important ways.
9. Allow time for PEACE for yourself
As you begin to plan out the itinerary for guests arriving or mealtimes, ensure to add in time for yourself. This time of year can be chaotic and demanding. Therefore, it is important that you give yourself peace and grace to have some time for yourself as well.
10. Don’t isolate to the Northpole, Gather with friends and family!
There are still so many germs spreading this world right now, making us want to stay home and isolate. Do what you can to spend this time of year with those that bring you joy and happiness!
