The holiday season is a time for family and friends to gather, celebrate life, continue tradition and reflect on what is important. It is also important to appreciate the gift of health. Here are a few tips to promote good health during the holiday season.
Focus on fun, not food. Indulge only on the most special holiday treats. You can skip everyday items like store bought cookies and enjoy a piece of homemade pumpkin pie. Also, plan ahead and stock the freezer with healthy meals so you can spend more time with family and friends and less time worrying about prepping nutritious meals.
It’s tempting to ditch your workouts as your days fill up with holiday preparations, parties, errands and shopping. Now, more than ever, it is important to stay active. Being more active as a family is a terrific way to burn the calories and spend time with the ones you love. If you normally walk 30 minutes each day, stretch your goal to 45 minutes. Although the weather might be cold outside, bundle up and try something new – ice skating, sledding and skiing are all great activities to keep you moving.
Brighten your holidays by making your health and safety a priority this season.
by Shalimar Valasek, WIC Nutritionist