Six Healthy Tips for the Holidays
We all know how hard it can be to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle during the holiday season. Not only is it a time for celebrating, gathering and giving, it’s a time for indulging. It can be difficult to avoid your favourite holiday treats, and it’s not to say that you should have to!
Here are six healthy tips to keep in mind during your holiday festivities.
With the holiday season comes holiday parties. Whether it be your office party or traditional family gathering, people often find themselves enjoying the odd refreshment. I like to enjoy sipping and socializing this time of year, so in an effort to stay healthy, my first tip is to choose low calorie drinks. Vodka is a great option for this. You can do a vodka water or a vodka soda mixed with lemon or lime. This makes for a tasty and refreshing cocktail. You can even mix with flavoured Mio or Crystal light for a juicier taste that’s still calorie-wise. Another drink option is champagne. A 4oz glass of bubbly is only 90 calories and is the ultimate festive drink. A glass of red or sweet white are the most mindful choices here. Alternatively, a 12oz glass of Guinness is the healthiest option for beer drinkers, with only 128 calories per serving.
You don’t have to restrict yourself from indulging in your favourite holiday treats and dinners. Instead, my second tip is to take advantage of the energy you’ll have from the extra calories in your system. I recommend getting active the day after your heaviest meal. This will give your body enough time to digest and rest and will supply you with ample fuel to intensify your activity the following day. It’ll be almost like you never even went back for seconds!
Potlucks are a given during the holidays. Set yourself up for success and bring something healthy. This guarantees that you will have a healthy option. Fruit and veggie trays are always a good option that people appreciate having. Otherwise, you can opt to clean up your favourite holiday recipe to make it more calorie friendly.
We are lucky to experience all four seasons in Canada. My next tip is to take advantage of this and get outside to try some seasonal activities! Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, skating and pond hockey are all things you can only partake in the Winter months. Reduced stress levels are also an added bonus to outdoor activities. I challenge you to try something new this holiday season!
There are certain foods that you can only count on eating during the holidays. Maybe it’s your grand-mothers famous fruit cake or those sugar cookies you eagerly anticipate each year. Choose one or two of your favourites that you know you can only indulge in during your festivities and avoid those that are available all year round. With this trick, you can control your intake while still allowing yourself to enjoy your favourite treats.
Finally, one of the best tips to keep in mind when eating during the holidays and beyond, is to wait at least 20 minutes before you go back for seconds. Your brain doesn’t realize you’re actually full for 20 minutes after you’ve eaten. So, in efforts to save yourself from unnecessary calories, take some time to relax after your first plate and assess if you really are still hungry.
By being mindful over the holiday season, you can keep a healthy balance and still indulge in your favourites! Add in some new winter activities and set yourself up for a healthy New Year!
Looking forward to seeing you at Sweat Club!
Laura