Healthy Holiday Habits

Tis’ the season of cookies, candies, pies and cakes!  The holidays are infamous for sweet and savory goodies that tempt you to overindulge and put you into a sugar overload.  All your hard work and perseverance in living a healthy life style seem threatened, increasing your stress levels and interfering with your ability to truly enjoy the season. The holidays are meant to be a joyous time of celebration with friends and family and you can enjoy all the festivities without sabotaging your health!

Here are some healthy holiday habits to remember this season:

• Eat wisely and in moderation. Never skip meals or go to a party hungry as you’ll typically end up overeating.  Keep your portion sizes in mind and enjoy your food, eating slowly and stopping when you’re full.
• Stay hydrated. As the weather gets colder it’s harder to remember to keep drinking water!  Drinking water not only keeps you energized, but it also helps aids in proper digestion and keeps your weight in check.  It’s also important to watch your liquid calories.  Many holiday drinks have as many calories as an entire meal!  Choose lower calorie cocktails and alternate your alcoholic beverages with water.
• Modify your recipes. Many traditional holiday recipes are laden with fat, calories and sugar.  Try replacing oil or butter with unsweetened  applesauce, avocado puree, prunes or even bananas.  Try mashed turnips or cauliflower in place of potatoes and greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise and sour cream.  These alternatives are not only lower in fat and calories, but are also packed with essential nutrients and vitamins!
• Stay active. It can be hard to find time during the holidays to exercise, so try scheduling it into your day like a mandatory appointment and stick to your schedule!  Even if it’s just 15-30 minutes a day, it’s important to get your body moving.  Exercise not only burns calories, keeping your weight in check, but it also helps decrease stress, which often increases during the holidays.

You can relish in all the holiday festivities this season and still follow a healthy lifestyle. Adapting healthy habits this holiday and sticking to them in the New Year will keep you strong, fit and healthy all year ‘round!