Are you wondering how to stay healthy over the holidays? This season, give yourself the best gift: the gift of good health! Develop healthy habits that extend well beyond the holidays with these helpful tips to stay fit and grateful for your health:
Picture your ideal holiday
Who would you spend it with? What would you do? This season, try to recreate the image you just described. You’ll gain a healthier satisfaction from this accomplishment than you would from indulging in another piece of fudge or second serving of stuffing.
Keep serving sizes in mind as you fill up your holiday plate
Meat should be roughly 3-4 ounces (the size of a deck of cards), cheese – 1 oz (the size of 4 dice), bread – one slice/or half a cup (half the size of a baseball) and fats – 1 teaspoon (the size of your thumb).
Don’t deprive yourself over the holidays
Eat the treats you really enjoy and skip the ones you can live without. If you look forward to your mom’s Christmas fudge every year, have a piece or two of that – instead of the fruitcake you aren’t crazy about.
Choose a healthy alternative to traditional food and drinks
Low-fat eggnog tastes just as good as the loaded version. An even better choice is spiced cider or wassail. Steamed shrimp is also a delicious alternative for Swedish meatballs. And of course, the veggie tray is a much safer choice compared to the cheese and cracker platter – just watch the dressing!
Fill up on healthy food before a feast
Eat a healthy, balanced meal with plenty of veggies before heading to a holiday party where there will be many temptations. Also try to limit your alcohol consumption, there can be anywhere between 90-400 calories per alcoholic beverage!
Utilize the power of exercise
You can easily burn away those extra calories consumed at a big holiday meal. Suggest a family walk or bike ride around the neighborhood after dinner. You’ll burn calories, get some fresh air and spend time with your family doing something active.
Bonus tip: Help friends and family stay healthy during the holidays too! Instead of bringing a plate of sweets or a gift basket loaded with high-calorie, sugar-rich treats, bring a few jars of Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut and Seed Butters. You can even put together your own gift basket with healthy treats and a few jars of Betsy’s Best. Or bring your hostess a jar! It’s a unique alternative to the usual bottle of wine and sure to make your hostess gift stand out from the rest.
Have yourself a very merry, healthy holiday season!
