Healthy Holidays: Eight Tips to Help You Maintain Your Healthy Lifestyle During The Holiday Season

While Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, it is always good to have a game plan in place for the days and hours leading up to the big day. My first Thanksgiving after being on my healthy living journey was interesting to say the least. But, I managed to get through it, and I know you can too! Here are eight tips for how I was able to stay on track during the Thanksgiving holiday:

1)      Don’t skip breakfast  (or any meals for that matter) and make it a healthy one. I know that especially on a day when there is a big holiday meal in the plans, you might lean towards not eating breakfast at all in order to “save room” for all of the delicious goodies that will be coming later in the day. Or, for those who believe in a cheat day, they will use the day to start off with a hearty breakfast of foods that they do not normally eat, and continue that trend throughout the day. I have found that what has worked for me is to have a healthy breakfast—either one of my green smoothies or perhaps some oatmeal. I will also try to eat a healthy but hearty salad for lunch. This way, I do not feel ravenous when I sit down at the dinner table or arrive at the party and the appetizer trays start to make their way around the room (more on those pesky appetizers later).

2)      Don’t skip out on your water. Just because it is the holiday season doesn’t mean that you should forget about any daily water targets you have. Even if you make sure you get in your recommended daily 8 glasses, that will help you feel fuller, longer. And as tempting as they are, try to stay away from those limited edition special holiday concoctions at your favorite coffee shop. They are loaded with artificial sweeteners & sugar!

3)      Don’t forget to pack some healthy snacks. If you have travel plans to get to your holiday destination, it is essential to keep healthy snacks on hand. Airports and interstate rest stops are not the most reliable resources for healthy snacks. By making sure you bring almonds, homemade granola or trail mix, and fresh fruits with you, it will help you stay on track. My personal favorites for traveling are Kind bars. 

4)      Don’t forget to share. If you are unsure of what the food offerings will be at your next holiday dinner, politely ask the hostess what is on the menu. This might be a touchy subject for some, but if you explain politely and gently that you are trying to get an idea of what will be served to prepare yourself because of your healthy eating, hopefully they will understand. I’d go with: “I am so excited to be sharing dinner with you this holiday season. Would you be willing to share what is on the menu with me? Just wanted to get an idea so I can be prepared.” If you will be attending a potluck dinner, now is your time to introduce your family and friends to a healthy dish! Consider bringing a health conscious side dish that will allow you to show your family that eating healthy can be equally delicious.

5)      Don’t fill up on appetizers. Unless it is a fruit or vegetable tray, skip the appetizers. Save that room (and those calories, if you’re counting) for the main star of the day: dinner (or, if you are like me, dessert)! If, however, you find yourself at your office holiday party and it is nothing but appetizers, use your best judgment in picking appetizers that are on the healthier side. Grilled chicken and shrimp skewers over pigs in a blanket. Soup shooters over mini quiches.

6)      Don’t forget to eat your veggies. My mother and aunt tell the story of how as children, my grandmother would make them eat their vegetables first, before they could have any starch or meat. While as a child I used to think this was cruel and unusual punishment, as an adult, I see the advantage of eating this way. Eating your vegetables first ensures you get some healthy foods in right away. Then you can work on having moderate portions of the meat and sides being served. If you think having your vegetables first will be too strange,  fill half of your plate with vegetables, and the rest with a combination of meat and other sides.

7)      Don’t forget to enjoy yourself. If Aunt Edna will be upset if you don’t have any of her 7 cheese mac and cheese, have a taste of it. If your grandmother will think you're strange because you didn’t have a slice of her “world famous” pumpkin pie, have a slice, just a smaller one than usual. Better to exercise moderation than to hurt a loved one’s feelings. In a similar fashion, you don't have to miss out on all of the holiday party fun! Have one, at most two, festive beverages, and then switch back to water.

8)      Don’t forget that tomorrow is a new day. Okay, so let’s say that all of these tips have gone out of the window and you wake up on the day after the holiday having eaten everything you could (and maybe even then some). I’ve been there, too. Trust me! Don’t be discouraged and by all means do NOT beat yourself up about it. Today is a new day, and a new chance to get it right. Don’t let your one day of celebration lead into a whole weekend of indulgence. Start your day with some warm water & lemon, have a green smoothie for breakfast, and continue moving forward with your health journey.

Do you have any tips on how to get through the holiday season while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Share them below! Let's help each other stay on track this holiday season.