These tips for staying healthy this holiday season will help you maintain a balance between happiness and health, so you can end the night — and the end of the season — feeling great.
The holiday season is almost here
This time of year is known as the season of abundance of luxury. From holiday parties to cookie exchanges to frequent drinks and fun, casually ignoring your normal healthy lifestyle habits can leave you feeling a little hungover on New Year’s Day.
We all want to enjoy the best of the season, but we don’t want to sacrifice our health or energy. If you find yourself drinking too many extra drinks or going back for cookies to relieve holiday stress, stop and ask yourself why. Are there other ways to release some of that pressure?
During this period, the squiggle effect is at its fullest. If your weekends are full of parties, you naturally want a lighter week. If your weekends are packed with social activities, try focusing on evergreen habits during the week. Stay active, feel good, enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables, and choose balanced meals.
How to stay healthy this holiday season
Here are some tips to stay healthy while enjoying great food this holiday season.
pre-game party
It’s about healthy eating, not alcohol! Eat a salad or a hearty, nutritious snack before heading to the holiday party. My goal is always to suppress my appetite, but not to be so full that I don’t want to eat something delicious. You don’t have to rely on cheese and crackers to satisfy your hunger, and crudités alone don’t make dinner. Eating a simple salad before you leave will fill you up. That way you won’t starve when you arrive and immediately dive into cheese (#speakingfrom experience!).
don’t take a sip
Instead of gulping down and choosing drinks that need refilling, reach for the things you want to eat and taste the most. My drink of choice is a juicy red wine, poured in small portions over several portions.
I also noticed that I drink more slowly when I don’t have a drink with me. So the perfect storm for me to not think about drinking is standing and chatting at a party. My rules are very loose: when I’m standing, I have a mocktail or club soda (at least as a second drink). If you’re at a sit-down party, you’ll enjoy authentic alcoholic drinks. If possible, let the drink rest on the mantel or table between sips. Even better, sit down and enjoy it with your meal. Continue to drink several glasses of water throughout the night.
Another drinking tip my mother once taught me: dilute the wine with water. I was a little intimidated by the wine when she suggested mixing club soda with white wine, but it’s actually a great way to get the taste of wine with half the potency. I flipped the script and instead of adding water to the wine, I added some wine to the club soda, resulting in a wine-flavored club soda.
Add green beans to green bean casserole
One of my all-time favorite tips for potlucks is to bring healthier dishes to share. That doesn’t mean you bring something awful that no one will eat. There are many delicious (and creative) takes on home cooking classics. Make a slightly healthier version of something everyone knows, like green bean casserole. No one will know the difference. (Here are some great recipes to try!) Whatever you bring to the potluck, make sure it’s something you’ll love and enjoy, too. My favorites are the Kale Massage Salad or this Fall Harvest Salad.
Let’s drink more tea!
Not only will a steaming mug of tea warm you up on a cold afternoon, but tea is included in your daily hydration requirements and can help you stay hydrated when ice water feels cold. Masu.
We have lots of great holiday flavored teas like Sugar Cookie Slay Ride and Cranberry Vanilla Wonderland. They have a scent that will satisfy your sweet tooth instead of reaching for the cookie tin after lunch. If you need a little more, add a teaspoon of honey as a natural sweetener.
If you have eaten too much, peppermint tea can help with digestion. These mint tea drops are my favorite to drink after dinner because they contain a little sugar and you just add them to hot water. There’s no caffeine either.
plan ahead
Plan out the night (or season) in your head. Whether you’re balancing a night out with a home-cooked meal the next day, or simply planning a party in your head before you head out, the more you practice mindfulness, the better. Let’s think about what’s to come. You’ll probably eat your mom’s famous pie at Christmas and enjoy eggnog with bourbon on New Year’s Eve. I love the phrase, “You can have it all. You can have it all.” It’s not all at once. ”
“Taste everything”
Of course, you’ll want to experience everything a dessert buffet has to offer, but you don’t have to eat a giant slice of every cake there to taste them. Eating rich foods in small portions allows you to enjoy them without feeling full or tired. Focus on how you want to feel at the end of the night.
Let’s go outside
Fresh air is good for everything. And physical activity goes a long way to boosting your mood. Remember why winter walks are the best. Whether you’re interested in cross-country skiing or just want to enjoy a power walk with family and friends, get outside. I love walking in the late afternoon when I tend to feel sleepy. It’s as energizing as a power nap.
Do you know what a great workout is? Sledding! And a snowball fight. And a snowman building. They also pull the children on sleds.
Now, if it snows around here…!
