The holidays are just around the corner and so are all the parties, get togethers and family gatherings you’ve been so eagerly waiting for all year; The turkey, the ham, the stuffing, the cranberry sauce, the list goes on! During such a festive time, it’s easy to forget about your diet and how it affects your nutritional and physical goals We’ll tell you how to beat those holiday temptations and come out of the holidays without worrying about working twice as hard to get back into the shape you were in before they started!
Here’s our 3 Easy Tips For Staying Healthy Over The Holidays.:
Stay hydrated.
Drinking lots of water will help transfer all the nutrients you get from your meals to the rest of your body. It will give you the energy you need to properly enjoy the company you are sharing the holidays with and it will also aid in regulating your body temperature. Drink water, not booze. Your body will thank you for it. If you feel like letting loose a little bit with some wine, try adding some carbonated water or club soda to dilute the calorie intake.
Stick to healthy alternatives.
What’s better than a big holiday feast? The holiday desserts that follow. It seems impossible to resist the sweet, tender treats that tease your taste buds with aromas and textures you can only dream about eating. It won’t be easy, but there are ways to avoid and even conquer these temptations by selectively choosing healthy proteins as snacks. Swap your dessert for snacks packed with protein and nutrients that have less fat and sugar. For example, you could swap candied yams for roasted sweet potatoes and full-fat dips for yogurt based dips instead. Calorie counting isn’t for everyone, but if you are keen enough to do so over the holidays, watch your portions and try swapping dark meat for white meat. As a general rule of thumb, store-bought items such as stuffing have tons of butter and white bread that aren’t so healthy.
Indulge in your surroundings, not what’s on your plate.
It’s easy to be seduced by aromas and visuals of holiday meals but it’s important to pace your eating, and most importantly, engage with your friends and family. After waiting all year long for such a feast, it’s hard not to rush into devouring that meal you’ve been patiently waiting for but take your time to chew, chat with neighbours at the table, and get up and walk around every once in a while. By taking breaks like this, you will give yourself time to digest small doses of food and nutrients instead of consuming them all at once.