“Alright, fine, just ONE more.”
Kels here! Of course, one turns into two, which turns into three, and all of a sudden you’re wondering why you feel so…blah. Sound familiar? This time of year is of course the most wonderful, but let’s face it, it can also be so tough to stay healthy during the holidays.
It’s easy to say I’ll control myself, but then I get to that holiday party and all will power goes out the window. Cheese…rolls…mashed potatoes…endless sweets….flowing champagne…the temptations go on and on, to the point where I think we can all agree that staying healthy during the holidays can be very tough.
Don’t get me wrong, indulging is a part of the joy, right?! But I do find it important to do so wisely, because my fellow 30-somethings know that as you get older, it’s a lot harder to reverse the side effects of over-indulgence than it was before. Plus, after I’ve had a bit too much — of anything from sweets to alcohol — I don’t feel great. Which is reason enough to keep it all in check, right?!
To help with this challenging matter, we’ve put together 5 practical tips that have worked for us in helping to keep excess in check, and stay healthy during the holidays, while still keeping enjoyment at the forefront of the season.
5 Practical Tips To Help You Stay Healthy During The Holidays
Drink Water
This seems like the most obvious tip ever, but sometimes is the hardest thing for me to remember to do!
Drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your body for countless reasons. Hydration acts on our body like oil does in a car. In the holiday season specifically, it ensures proper hydration to keep energy up for hours, can help curb those apple pie cravings, and controls weight gain. It makes all the systems run more smoothly and efficiently. It’s a leading factor in a healthy digestive system, can help save you from a nasty hangover, and it can help to ward off germs coming your way.
A tip that is easy to implement is that for every drink you intake, offset it with a glass of water. One for one!
Add Fruits And Veggies To Your Plate
It’s very easy to head straight to the “Pigs in a Blanket”, and of course you should never feel guilty about that, but a great way to help to not go overboard is add in some fruits and veggies to your roundup if they’re available. Throw a little dip on them to make them taste more appealing! Not only will they help to fill you up so that you don’t eat half the cheesy dip, but the extra nutrition will help to keep your immune system up!
Manage The Portions On Your Plate
As someone who has always been part of the “Clean plate club,” this is a rule I’ve tried to follow as I’ve gotten older. Instead of putting mounds and mounds of food on a large dinner plate, I try to use a salad plate to help portion out my food, specifically appetizers. This helps make the plate LOOK like what my brain is expecting (a full plate) without the massive over-stuffing that usually comes with ah huge plateful of YUM. If I’m still hungry after I’m done, I can always go back to seconds. But usually the portions are the perfect!
Schedule Time For Exercise
During the holiday season it can be hard to find time to exercise. However, staying active gives you energy, reduces stress in a major way, and as a bonus, it helps burn some of those extra calories you may be taking in.
The best way to squeeze in some activity this time of year is to plan ahead. I find it easiest to get it done either first thing in the morning before the rest of the household gets up, or late morning after I get the kids dressed and out the door for school. One thing is certain: The longer I wait, the less likely I am to fit in a workout.
If you don’t belong to a gym, group fitness classes are a great option and help to motivate. Another awesome option if you’re tight for time and stuck at home are any of these amazing smart phone apps with home workouts for you to do for your convenience! Also, Emily and I posted 4 easy home workout moves to do when you’re tight for time over the summer – it has some great suggestions!
Take Time To Meal Prep
Meal prepping is something I’ve always wanted to master, and truth be told, it’s on my resolution list for the New Year! I when I do it, I find that I eat healthier and more sensibly, and it also eliminates so much wasted food. A few friends of mine who swear by meal planning do their shopping and meal prepping every Sunday afternoon for the week ahead, which I think is so smart.
During the holidays, meal planning can help to account for the days when you know you’re going to be indulging. For example, if you have a holiday party, plan meals for earlier in the day that are high in nutrition but low in fat to help offset those extra cookies. Or perhaps you allow for a “cheat day” when you don’t worry about all you’re indulging on, but the next day you make sure to get meals in that are good for you.
One note is that it’s probably not realistic to during this season to plan every meal, but at least you can help to plan for the offset of some of those situations and times when you want to just treat yourself! (Rightfully so – you deserve it!)
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PS – 3 Changes We Made For A More Balanced Holiday + 4 At-Home Workout Moves To Do When You’re Strapped For Time + Applying The KonMari Method To Life
