With the vast array of sweet treats, alcoholic drinks and high-fat foods that the holiday season brings, it’s easy to fall behind on your health and fitness goals. However, with the right mindset, it’s possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle – and still indulge in rich, holiday-time foods – throughout this hectic season.
Dr. Wendy Bazilian, the author of “The SuperFoodsRx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients,” co-author of “Eat Clean, Stay Lean,” and a wellness consultant for NOW Foods, notes that sticking to a regimented, healthful holiday routine can provide you with the energy you need to stay fit.
“As the holidays approach, we’re challenged not only by our change in routines, but also by the wide variety of ways we’re tempted to overindulge in less healthful choices,” she says. “That’s why it’s more important than ever … to renew your intentions for healthy living by creating a plan that you can stick to, for both your daily fueling and also fitness routines.”
To help guide your decisions this season, check out Dr. Bazilian’s top five strategies for bettering your health:
- Maintain a balanced eating program. Don’t skip meals, says Bazilian, but instead eat lighter portions consistently, focusing on nutrient-dense and low-calorie fruits and vegetables.
- Keep up your exercise program – even if it’s just 15 minutes a day. Set practical goals and commit to a reasonable exercise regimen. Aim to maintain your weight, rather than making any drastic changes.
- Indulge in some holiday “me time”. It’s well known that this time can be quite hectic with buying gifts, attending family and work get-togethers and overindulging in food and drink. Bazilian suggests taking up small activities — like meditating or journaling — to stay centred.
- Strengthen your immune system. With cold and flu season in full swing, this time can really take a toll on your health. To stay healthy, says Bazilian, enjoy vitamin C-rich foods — like citrus fruits — or consider taking an immune-supporting supplement.
- Try a health-friendly menu at your holiday parties. Instead of a typical turkey dinner or alcohol-soaked cocktail party, Bazilian suggests opting for healthier holiday meals filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.
