5 Ways To Add Health To The Holidays
Hello Friend,
Ah, the holidays are upon us. What an exciting and beautiful time of the year to share your love, your joy and happiness with your family. It’s also a time of overindulgence and hangovers from both food and or alcohol.
Yes, even the healthiest of us struggle to stay away from the cookies, cakes and candies of the season, especially the drinking aspect. And even if you try to increase your workout routine to counter December’s through-the-roof treat quotient, it is just not enough to counter the effects that the sugars and alcohol has on your system.
It may help to find some quick ways to nourish your body this month and not sacrifice your good health and calm spirit. Leave the complex homemade smoothie recipes and intricate vegetarian meals for January, when you’ll have all the time in the world for shopping, peeling and chopping. For the holidays, try these 5 tips for staying healthy (and giving yourself a break).
1. Protect breakfast as your health-warrior territory
They can tempt you with cookies in the afternoon, cocktails in the evening and apple pie at night, it is OK to just say “No, Thank You”. And truly mean it. You don’t need that sugar in your body anyway. Let your first bites of the day be of the wholesome, nourishing, set- off-on-the- right-foot variety, and—most importantly—keep it simple. Look for simple sources of protein, fat, and veggies such as a veggie omelette or an apple with some almonds. Jam in the nutrients at breakfast, and you’ll have at least one meal each and every day to feel great about (you may feel so good about yourself that you’re inspired to take it easy on the crab puffs later on).
2. Match naughty and nice, bite for bite
One cornerstone of staying healthy and happy is moderation, which can include letting yourself indulge from time to time. Stay too strict with yourself, and the one piece of cake you turned down today can turn into three you binge on tomorrow. Don’t be that guy (or girl). Go ahead and occasionally enjoy those butter-packed mashed potatoes and sugar coated peppermint bark, but try preceding it with something healthy, like carrot sticks or clementine wedges. Or, experiment with making a green smoothie which tastes amazing alongside that crown roast! These tactics help ensure that the month’s indulgences won’t squeeze out the nutrients you need, and your healthy preamble might fill you up a bit, leaving a little less room for the treats.
3. Choose ingredients wisely
In a month when your healthy choices might be a tad overshadowed, you’re going to want a little extra nutritional bang for your buck. Now is the time to spring for premium, fresh, local produce which is packed with nutrition. Make sure you carry with you pure filtered or spring water all the time. This way you stay hydrated and are not tempted to drink anything that is otherwise not good for you.
4. Give health-junkie gifts
Do you want some quick gift ideas? Make Holiday Season 2020 the year of the health-inspired gift. Give your loved ones cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, sprouting jar and seeds, juice presses…whatever grabs you as tools for your loved ones’ healthiest lives. You can see where we’re headed with this. Before you hit the checkout lane at Home Goods, throw some stay-healthy gifts for yourself in the cart. Your spree is sure to inspire you to feel great during the most indulgent time of year—and to start 2021 with the right mindset, on the right foot.
5. Put yourself on the calendar
What’s the best way to completely abandon the healthy habits you work hard to maintain 11 months out of the year? Over-schedule yourself to the point that artichoke dip and champagne cocktails count as dinner. It’s tempting to say “yes” to all 12 virtual party invites you received, but is it worthwhile if it means you can’t eat a laid-back meal, go for a run, or have a thought to yourself for a full five weeks? Be a slave to your calendar—fine—but block off afternoons and evenings that aren’t about wrapping presents or decorating your house and instead are about taking care of you. Your 2021 self will thank you for it.
Yes, even the healthiest of us struggle to stay away from the cookies, cakes and candies of the season, especially the drinking aspect. And even if you try to increase your workout routine to counter December’s through-the-roof treat quotient, it is just not enough to counter the effects that the sugars and alcohol has on your system.
It may help to find some quick ways to nourish your body this month and not sacrifice your good health and calm spirit. Leave the complex homemade smoothie recipes and intricate vegetarian meals for January, when you’ll have all the time in the world for shopping, peeling and chopping. For the holidays, try these 5 tips for staying healthy (and giving yourself a break).
1. Protect breakfast as your health-warrior territory
They can tempt you with cookies in the afternoon, cocktails in the evening and apple pie at night, it is OK to just say “No, Thank You”. And truly mean it. You don’t need that sugar in your body anyway. Let your first bites of the day be of the wholesome, nourishing, set- off-on-the- right-foot variety, and—most importantly—keep it simple. Look for simple sources of protein, fat, and veggies such as a veggie omelette or an apple with some almonds. Jam in the nutrients at breakfast, and you’ll have at least one meal each and every day to feel great about (you may feel so good about yourself that you’re inspired to take it easy on the crab puffs later on).
2. Match naughty and nice, bite for bite
One cornerstone of staying healthy and happy is moderation, which can include letting yourself indulge from time to time. Stay too strict with yourself, and the one piece of cake you turned down today can turn into three you binge on tomorrow. Don’t be that guy (or girl). Go ahead and occasionally enjoy those butter-packed mashed potatoes and sugar coated peppermint bark, but try preceding it with something healthy, like carrot sticks or clementine wedges. Or, experiment with making a green smoothie which tastes amazing alongside that crown roast! These tactics help ensure that the month’s indulgences won’t squeeze out the nutrients you need, and your healthy preamble might fill you up a bit, leaving a little less room for the treats.
3. Choose ingredients wisely
In a month when your healthy choices might be a tad overshadowed, you’re going to want a little extra nutritional bang for your buck. Now is the time to spring for premium, fresh, local produce which is packed with nutrition. Make sure you carry with you pure filtered or spring water all the time. This way you stay hydrated and are not tempted to drink anything that is otherwise not good for you.
4. Give health-junkie gifts
Do you want some quick gift ideas? Make Holiday Season 2020 the year of the health-inspired gift. Give your loved ones cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, sprouting jar and seeds, juice presses…whatever grabs you as tools for your loved ones’ healthiest lives. You can see where we’re headed with this. Before you hit the checkout lane at Home Goods, throw some stay-healthy gifts for yourself in the cart. Your spree is sure to inspire you to feel great during the most indulgent time of year—and to start 2021 with the right mindset, on the right foot.
5. Put yourself on the calendar
What’s the best way to completely abandon the healthy habits you work hard to maintain 11 months out of the year? Over-schedule yourself to the point that artichoke dip and champagne cocktails count as dinner. It’s tempting to say “yes” to all 12 virtual party invites you received, but is it worthwhile if it means you can’t eat a laid-back meal, go for a run, or have a thought to yourself for a full five weeks? Be a slave to your calendar—fine—but block off afternoons and evenings that aren’t about wrapping presents or decorating your house and instead are about taking care of you. Your 2021 self will thank you for it.
