Healthy for the Holidays

Staying healthy during any holiday season is essential for everyone. Just like there are essential tips and tricks to creating the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations, there also needs to be a ready made plan of simple tips and tricks to stay healthy during the holidays.

Now when I say healthy, I do not mean starving yourself or doing a raging exercise routine for hours just so that you can fit into the perfect outfit for your office Christmas party. I mean not running yourself ragged trying to prepare the perfect holiday time for you and yours. I mean that you need to be taking care of yourself as the weather and seasons change. You need to make sure that you are not so run down that you are more susceptible to getting sick at a time when that could happen the easiest and at the worst possible time.

A pretty sign with an all too true message, so use our tips to ensure that you don’t do this!

Even though I don’t want you starving yourself or putting yourself through a raging exercise routine, I do believe that healthy eating and exercise will help to keep you feeling good and at your very best for the most wonderful time of the year.

Let's face it, the holidays are wonderful and we look forward to them every year, but traditionally they are also a time of gluttonous over eating and gaining of pounds. BUT we are here to tell you that it doesn't have to be. You can exercise portion control, meaning smaller portions of all the foods so that you can try a small amount of all the foods at the table AND save room for a small slice of pie or treat.

These are some great ideas to help with holiday eating.

Exercise should also be incorporated into your everyday life and be something to de-stress from the season because honesty as much as we love the holidays (and trust me, my family, especially Winter and I, are CRAZY for Christmas!), the holidays can also be a very stressful time. Trust me, you will need some ways to de-stress and remember just what this time is for: family and friends.

This time of year is for giving and receiving and gathering all together as one once more. The holidays are about remembering and making brand new memories that you and your family will remember for years to come. Thanksgiving is stressful enough and then we immediately jump right into the Christmas season. You will need our tips for staying healthy this time of year to be able to ensure that you are here, healthy and happy, to enjoy every moment of it with your family and friends.

Tip for staying healthy during the holidays:

Tip 1: Practice Portion control! Do this for meals now and all future meals at dinners, parties, office events, family outings-always only take what you need (you can always go back for more if you decide you want it!) This will also ensure that you might have actually saved room for a small dessert (yum!).

Tip 2: Exercise! (But not the kind where you are running yourself ragged!) Try calming yoga, meditation, going for a walk in the fall leaves or snow (if you're lucky enough to get it!), walk around in the evening with your family after dinner and look at beautiful holiday decorations-any of these work, just take the time to do something. (Psst…these can also work to de-stress you!)

Tip 3: Stay Hydrated! With the holidays here, you are surrounded by great friends and family, delicious food, and an array of boozy and sugary drinks. I know that it can be an exciting time and you want to celebrate, so go ahead and enjoy something special like a delicious Eggnog. Just remember that one 8 oz glass of eggnog has 19 grams of fat and over 350 calories! (WOW!!!) Try switching to Champagne which has less than 150 calories in the same amount and is fat free! When in doubt, practice portion control here as well.

Tip 4: Take time for you and your family! Sit down with your family and watch a holiday movie like Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas (24/7 Christmas movies! With 33 new ones! Including a big Thanksgiving week event), sit down and play a board game, go get a tree and decorate it and the house for the holidays (trust me, I wont judge you if you want to start now ;) ).

Tip 5: Take time for yourself! Take a moment to try some meditation, unwind with a nice bath and candles, read a great holiday book (try a great author like Jill Shalvis or Debbie Macomber), take a moment to enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations all around, or even turn off all the electronics for a couple of hours and just breathe-anything that will help keep you from worrying and stressing about all the things on your to do list.

Christmas is a time of love and laughter and you need to be healthy to enjoy it all so whatever you do, Take time for yourself this holiday season and all year long - you deserve it!