4 Ways To Stay Healthy This Holiday

I don’t know about you, but this Monday after Thanksgiving my pants feel the slightest bit tighter, my sweet tooth is raging, and I’m still reveling in the fun and food from this past holiday. With one down and one to go, our days are filled with Christmas music and Christmas treats. It is very easy to fall into poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity during the busy holiday season. Today I am going to share with you 4 things that you and your family can do to stay healthy this holiday.

1. DRINK MORE WATER

Assign refillable water bottles to each family member. Before they are able to have any sort of soft drink, sports drink, or sugary beverage require that family members drink a water bottle first. This will not only satiate their thirst but help avoid unwanted, extra calories.  With dropping temperatures, many of us drop our water consumption as well. Just because we aren’t sweating, doesn’t mean we don’t need water! Many still follow the 8 cups a day rule in terms of drinking water, but it is not that simple. Activity level, environment, and health all have determining effects on the amount of water needed to stay hydrated. Carrying around a water bottle and making a routine of drinking water will help keep your family hydrated during the holidays.

  2. SET THE TIMER

It is easy to get stuck on the couch behind a phone or tablet. An easy way to not waste the day away is to set the timer. Allow your kids only 20 minutes of screen time by setting the timer on the oven or use a kitchen timer. This is a great rule of thumb for adults as well. Not only will it make you more cognoscente of time spent behind a screen, but it will make sure that you are getting up and moving. As recommended by the USDA Activity Guideline’s for Americans children 6-17 should have at least 1 hour of physical activity daily. Adults age 18-64 should be getting 150 minutes of physical activity each week. It is difficult to meet that recommendation when you are on your phone, iPad, or watching TV most of the day. 

3. EAT SOMETHING GREEN & A PIECE OF FRUIT

Holidays are the season of cookies, candies, and desserts galore. It’s easy to put your healthy diet on the back burner. With many fresh fruits and vegetables out of season, it can be a challenge to eat the recommended 2 and 2 ½ cups of produce each day. Keep it simple for your family by simply asking for every member to eat something green and eat one piece of fruit each day. You can hold each other accountable sharing what the something green one was at dinner each night!

4. GET ACTIVE INSIDE

It is challenging to stay active during cold winter months when it is not possible to enjoy the outdoors. With available online resources, keep active inside during the winter months with a new workout class, dance cardio class or this no equipment HIIT workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOyhgv6SA1k . Get your kids involved and have them move right alongside with you!   

Like this list? Make a copy of this check list for each family member and have them check off each step each day to make sure they are completing it each day! Feel free to make it your own by adding or subtracting items to meet your family’s needs.