The holiday season tempts even healthy eaters with high-fat holiday fare. Busy social calendars reduce the amount of time available to take care of yourself. An all-or-nothing approach to the holidays leaves many people feeling frustrated and may lead to overindulgence. Moderation in all things holiday helps you stay on track without derailing the healthy habits you built throughout the year.
Set Realistic Goals
Whether you're focusing on your diet, exercise or a combination, don't set yourself up for failure with unrealistically high expectations. The increased commitments and stress of the holiday period may cause your plans to go off track more than once. Setting holiday goals serves as a motivator as long as you don't set them too high.
Rethink Traditions
A spot next to the buffet table with a glass of eggnog in hand leads to lots of extra calories during the holidays. Cutting back doesn't have to mean sacrificing the holiday enjoyment. Slight changes to your holiday traditions help you stay on track with your health. Instead of sitting around the house socializing, get the group together for a physical activity. You might organize a snowball fight or meet up at a local laser tag facility. Instead of buying a tree that is already cut, head to a tree farm that allows you to cut down your own tree. You get exercise from walking, sawing and hauling the tree while creating a new tradition.
Make Recipes Healthier
Traditional holiday recipes also leave room for improvement in the health department. Substitutions in the recipe often won't affect the outcome other than the fat and calorie content. For example, serve a tub of low-fat whipped cream with dessert instead of the regular version, or swap the white rolls with whole wheat. Buy low-fat eggnog or mix half skim milk with regular eggnog to lighten it up. Many classic recipes are already available in versions with lower fat and calories. Add in healthy dishes, like a green salad or roasted vegetables, to balance out the other dishes.
Stay Mentally Healthy
The holidays lead to increased stress for many people. Increased spending, more social events, dealing with families and finding gifts for everyone on your list are just a few situations that lead to high stress levels. Take a break from all of the festivities to focus on your mental health. Practice breathing and relaxation techniques to deal with stressful holiday situations that arise. Stay active to reduce your overall stress levels.
