The hustle and bustle of the holiday season will soon be here. Have you thought about how you will maintain healthy habits through it all? One of the biggest challenges may be the meals you eat away from home. Whether it is office, family, or neighborhood parties, or eating out while you are doing your shopping, you need to be conscious of healthy choices. The best thing you can do to keep healthy behaviors this holiday season is plan for it now. Here are five great tips to get you started:
- Keep it colorful. Continue to follow MyPlate including all the colors and food groups on your plate. Making half your plate fruits and vegetables helps keep everything else in check.
- Prioritize your plate. You may remember a post from last year where I shared the tip, eat what you love, leave what you like. It is probably unrealistic to say you won’t indulge in any holiday treats this season. Go ahead and let yourself enjoy your favorite treats a little here and there. Save your indulgences for things you really love and pass on the things that you just like.
- Water, water, water! One of the easiest things you can do to keep calorie consumption under control is to drink water. Many holiday drinks are high in calories. Skipping them and drinking water instead can make a big difference.
- Keep moving. When we get busy, exercise and physical activity are often the first thing to go. We tell ourselves that we simply don’t have time. Skipping physical activity makes it harder to balance calories in, calories out. If you plan to indulge a bit on holiday treats this season, be sure to keep active as well.
- Choose restaurants wisely. When you know your schedule won’t allow for a home cooked meal, plan ahead. Research which restaurants in your area have healthy options. Go even a step further and review their menu. Many restaurant chains have their information available online. Have a plan in place for what you will order once you get there. This can be a big step in helping you control cravings and avoid overindulgences.
View the links below for more tips on having a healthy holiday season. Come back and let me know what steps you will take to keep your health and nutrition a priority.
Eat What You Love and Leave What You Like
You might want to give Cinnamon Swirl Bread a try. Made with whole wheat and minimal sugar, it’s a great, healthy holiday recipe. Enjoy!
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