How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
The Holidays are usually full of many tasty treats! If you have recently changed the way you eat it can be challenging to avoid temptation. Many of the holiday traditions revolve around food. Which can make it extremely challenging. I don’t know about you- I find it hard to make a Gingerbread House without eating a single piece of candy. Does this mean that I should never make another gingerbread house again? For me that is absolutely NOT the answer. I LOVE doing that too much! Are there ways I can decorate a Gingerbread House and have less temptation? Absolutely! Use kinds of Candy that you don’t really like that much. One thing I have learned is that when I am eating something that is unhealthy - I make a conscious decision. I weigh in all the factors. How important is this to me? Is this a very special occasion? Will it derail me from my health? Will it make me sick? When was the last time I ate something unhealthy? Sometimes just asking myself questions like this- I realize that in fact I don’t really want to eat it. Sometimes I make the decision that I want to be healthy, but I also want to live a balanced life where I don’t feel deprived.
Another great tip is to bring healthy treats with you to Holiday Parties or events. Make up a batch of one of your healthy treats you love. I often bring with me some Paleo cookies or banana bread. Whatever sounds good to me on that day. Another thing that is fun to do is make a Fruit Tree. I use a Styrofoam cone from a craft store and using toothpicks decorate it with fruit- I usually use mostly berries. It looks really pretty and is delicious and healthy. I can’t find a picture of one that I have made in the past. I have been getting requests to make one this year. So- when I make one l post a picture then.
Another thing I find myself doing is trying to spend more focus on spending time with family and enjoying the many holiday activities and being less focused on the food. I love to go see all the many Holiday Light Displays, Holiday Plays, Holiday Bazaars, Christmas Caroling, Ugly Sweater Parties, etc.
I would also recommend you tell your friends and family how important your health is and why you are making the changes you. I know that when my family became aware of how much better I feel when I eat healthy- they began trying to support me. Not everyone will be this lucky. I know I have often been around people who must have little horns sticking out of their heads - tempting me at every corner.
My final bit of advice is moderation. I sometimes go places and make the decision that I can have one treat. I make it a game- deciding what that special goodie is going to be. And when I eat the treat. I take time to fully enjoy each and every bite- rather than eating so fast that I can’t appreciate it.
Remember if you don’t eat as healthy as you would like it does NOT mean that you no longer eat healthy. You are human. Be kind to yourself and just keep on going. Being healthy means living a full and complete life. While eating healthy 100 percent of the time would be ideal. If you eat healthy 80 percent or higher you will still reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy the Holidays and Just do the best that you can.
