Holiday Cheer!

The Holiday season is a time for visiting with family and friends, a time for enjoying special holiday foods, a time for celebrating another wonderful year but it can also be a time of little physical activity and a little too much eating. Don’t let this holiday season overwhelm your healthy living plans.

You can enjoy the season – even all the delicious treats – if you try some of these tips.

·         Focus on consistent meal timing, don’t go too long between meals or you will overeat

·         Choose the foods you love but consume them slowly so that you can savor every bite

·         Skip those foods that are everyday, higher calorie choices to provide room for seasonal treats

·         Try to keep fruits and vegetables in your meal and snacks – they can help you feel full longer

·         Add some activity to your day, even if it is just parking further away at the mall

·         Yoga and meditation can help you deal with stress much better than eating

·         Family meals are about visiting and enjoying the meal so talk more and you’ll eat less

·         Monitor you alcohol intake since it not only contains calories it can cause you to eat more

No matter how you celebrate your holidays make sure you enjoy time with family and friends, keep an eye on what and how much you eat and celebrate safely. Happy Holidays!

Connie Diekman, M.Ed., RD, CSSD, LD, FAND

Nutrition Communications Consultant