Staying Healthy During the Holidays

The Holidays are a time to relax, have fun, open presents and most importantly spend time with your friends and family. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and Thanksgiving have their own unique way of celebrating a special event. The one thing that probably unites all of these holidays is the delicious food that is served at the table. Unfortunately, this food isn’t always known for being healthy.

Delicious Foods

Mashed potatoes, turkey, corn bread and pies are part of the holidays but they aren’t always made in the healthiest manner. Eating yourself full of these can cause weight gain. Before you think you need to cancel the Thanksgiving Turkey this year there are plenty of ways that you can stay healthy during the holidays and still enjoy the foods you’ve come to love.

Moderation

The first thing you need to think about when you see all that food is moderation. Just about anything can fit into a healthy and balanced diet as long as it’s moderated. For example, having one slice of pumpkin pie won’t cause any damage, but when you go for your second and third slice in the same sitting, you create problems.

Healthy Options

If you’re afraid that you’ll eat too much at one meal, start with some lighter foods. Get a plate of salad and eat that first. Next move on to the main coarse. If you do this, you’ll have less room in your stomach for all those high calorie foods. When the time comes to get seconds, you’ll already be full.

Leftovers

You can also get rid of leftovers. Don’t throw them away but instead, offer them to your guests. College students love leftovers and won’t mind taking them off your hands.

Exercise

Don’t forget to exercise. If you really don’t want to skip out on any of the food, make sure you burn it off through exercise. You’ll probably be away from your hometown during the holidays, so find something you like to do that doesn’t require a gym. Play tennis, go running or ride a bike.

The Bottom Line

Being healthy isn’t only about your physical shape. It’s also about being happy and enjoying yourself. The holidays are a time to spend with the ones you love. Don’t be overly obsessed with the calories you’re eating or how you can’t go to the gym. Maintain the healthy habits that you can and try not to stress too much about the ones you can’t.