A Healthy Holiday Season Starts with Healthy Eating and Healthy Fun!

Family smiling and enjoying a healthy holiday meal.

Healthy Holiday Eating and Healthy Fun: Tips for The Family for Maintaining Weight during the Holidays.

The holiday season is a time for celebration and feasting. But it can also be a time for weight gain. With all the delicious food and drinks around, it can be hard to resist temptation. But there are ways to enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your health.

Here are some tips for healthy holiday eating:

• Eat before you go to parties. This will help you avoid overeating when you're faced with a buffet table full of tempting food.

• Drink water to curb your appetite. Many times you are actually thirsty and not hungry.

• Bring a healthy dish to share. You'll be surprised at how many of your family and friends will gravitate towards your healthy dish.

• Choose lean protein sources. Instead of turkey or ham, try roasted chicken or fish.

• Load up on vegetables. Vegetables are low in calories and high in nutrients. Fill your plate with roasted vegetables, salads, and steamed vegetables.

• Limit processed foods. Processed foods are often high in calories, fat, and sugar. Avoid processed foods like chips, cookies, and candy.

• Can't pass up on your favorite holiday dish... try the 3-Bite Rule: Bite 1 - say, "Hello!", Bite 2 - say, "Nice to Meet You", Bite 3 - say, "Goodbye". This trick should leave you feeling satisfied and not deprived of your favorite holiday dish.

• Drink in moderation. Alcohol is high in calories. If you do choose to drink, limit yourself to one or two drinks.

Here are some additional tips for maintaining a healthy weight during the holidays:

• Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Exercise helps to burn calories and build muscle.

• Get enough sleep. When you're tired, you're more likely to make unhealthy food choices. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

• Manage stress. Stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as reading, exercise, yoga, or meditation.

Here are some ideas for healthy holiday meals and snacks:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries and nuts, yogurt with fruit and granola, whole-wheat toast with avocado and eggs

• Lunch: Salad with grilled chicken or fish, whole-wheat wrap with hummus and vegetables, soup and a sandwich on whole-wheat bread

• Dinner: Roasted chicken or fish with vegetables, turkey chili

• Snacks: Fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs

One way to help make healthy choices is to challenge yourself. Take a breath, think about your choices and the consequence of your choices and how you will feel afterwards. Is it really worth it? Hopefully, you'll make the best choice for your goals. However, if you do overindulge during the holidays, don't beat yourself up about it. Just pick yourself up and start again the next day. The important thing is to make healthy choices most of the time.

Here are some fun family activities for the holidays:

• Go ice skating. Ice skating is a classic winter activity that the whole family can enjoy.

• Build a snowman. If you live in a place where it snows, build a snowman together. You can even have a snowman-building contest with other families in your neighborhood.

• Go to a holiday light show. Many cities and towns put on elaborate holiday light shows during the holidays. Take a drive or walk through a light show to see the festive displays.

• Visit a Christmas tree farm. Choosing a Christmas tree is a fun family tradition. Many Christmas tree farms also have other activities, such as hayrides and petting zoos.

• Singing Christmas carols. Singing Christmas carols is a fun and festive way to celebrate the holidays. You can either sing at home or join a group of carolers in your neighborhood.

• Have a holiday movie marathon. Cuddle up on the couch with your family and watch your favorite holiday movies.

• Play holiday games. There are many fun holiday games that you can play with your family. Charades are always fun!

• Make holiday ornaments together. Wrap gifts together and decorate them in a festive way.

• Volunteer in your community. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and spend time with your family. You can volunteer at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or animal shelter.

These are just a few ideas for fun family activities for the holidays. With a little planning, you can create memories that are not centered around food but will last a lifetime! Creating new health-centered activities and healthy eating throughout the year will set your children and their children up for healthy living!

I hope these tips help you and your family stay healthy and have fun during the Holiday Season!

If you can't do it on you own, are unable to participate in family activities like these, ask me how my support and my program can help you achieve your weight loss and lifestyle transformation goals.

Lifelong Health Transformations with Cheryl includes a simple holistic approach to weight loss and creating a lifelong healthy lifestyle. This is accomplished through personal one-on-one coaching, inspiration, motivation, support and practical tips on healthy eating and hydration, healthy weight management, healthy motion, healthy mind, healthy sleep and energy management, and healthy surroundings. You'll also have access to a private community of like-minded individuals that encourage and support each other, along with materials and virtual learning. Reach out for a complimentary health assessment and embark on a transformative journey towards a healthier, happier you. ~ Cheryl