Post by SAND Member Haley Longworth
It’s no surprise that the holidays can be a difficult time to eat healthy and take care of our bodies. With candy canes and chocolate lining the aisles at all the grocery stores and heavy, greasy foods filling the table at the family dinner, it can be easy to be led off track and indulge a little too much. Although there is nothing wrong with giving in to your favorite unhealthy foods, it is important not to overdo it. Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t go overboard with your indulgences this year:
Find healthy substitutes for your favorite holiday foods. Whether that be substituting whole wheat flour for white flour in your favorite cookie recipe or making zucchini noodles to replace wheat noodles, there are many ways to make your favorite holiday meals healthier. It’s as simple as typing the ingredient you want to substitute into Google or Pinterest!
Do your best to avoid overeating. It’s totally OK to satisfy your holiday cravings, but overeating when you’re already full will leave you feeling sluggish and bloated. It is better to allow yourself that holiday treat and be satisfied than feel like you should keep eating just because it’s the holidays! It helps to make sure you get small portions of all the foods you want to eat at once rather than depending on going back for second and thirds. Make sure that if you do go back for more, it’s for the healthier options available.
Bring your own dish to the holiday party. One way to guarantee that there will be something healthy for you to eat at the dinner table is to bring your own dish. This will not only guarantee that you are getting some much-needed nutrients, but also that your family and friends are too.
Practice balance and don’t stress it. Like I said before, there is nothing wrong with giving in to your favorite holiday foods, but it is important to balance those indulgences with vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy fats too. However, even if you do go a little overboard or don’t fit in all your healthy, fresh foods, DON’T STRESS. Feeling guilty won’t do any good, and you might as well enjoy it because this time of the year only happens once!
It’s no surprise that the holidays can be a difficult time to eat healthy and take care of our bodies. With candy canes and chocolate lining the aisles at all the grocery stores and heavy, greasy foods filling the table at the family dinner, it can be easy to be led off track and indulge a little too much. Although there is nothing wrong with giving in to your favorite unhealthy foods, it is important not to overdo it. Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t go overboard with your indulgences this year:
Find healthy substitutes for your favorite holiday foods. Whether that be substituting whole wheat flour for white flour in your favorite cookie recipe or making zucchini noodles to replace wheat noodles, there are many ways to make your favorite holiday meals healthier. It’s as simple as typing the ingredient you want to substitute into Google or Pinterest!
Do your best to avoid overeating. It’s totally OK to satisfy your holiday cravings, but overeating when you’re already full will leave you feeling sluggish and bloated. It is better to allow yourself that holiday treat and be satisfied than feel like you should keep eating just because it’s the holidays! It helps to make sure you get small portions of all the foods you want to eat at once rather than depending on going back for second and thirds. Make sure that if you do go back for more, it’s for the healthier options available.
Bring your own dish to the holiday party. One way to guarantee that there will be something healthy for you to eat at the dinner table is to bring your own dish. This will not only guarantee that you are getting some much-needed nutrients, but also that your family and friends are too.
Practice balance and don’t stress it. Like I said before, there is nothing wrong with giving in to your favorite holiday foods, but it is important to balance those indulgences with vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy fats too. However, even if you do go a little overboard or don’t fit in all your healthy, fresh foods, DON’T STRESS. Feeling guilty won’t do any good, and you might as well enjoy it because this time of the year only happens once!