10 totally do-able tips to navigating Christmas and staying on track with your health

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Holiday and indulgence seem to go hand in hand. Which can be really tasking if you are like me, and trying to stay on track with your healthy eating and exercising etc.

It used to feel restricting during the holiday season when parties abound and rich, salty and sugary foods are pretty much everywhere. Now, I use a few tricks I’ve learned along the way, to help me navigate the holidays making smart health-focused choices and without seeming like the health nut while doing it!

I’m going to share 10 totally do-able tips to help you stay on track this holiday. Try 1 or a few of these suggestions and you just might be feeling a whole lot better come January 2nd. 

Here we go:

1. 1. Maintain your schedule
      Skipping a meal after you overeat at a family dinner isn’t an ideal way to try and catch up as it can cause you to overeat once you do get to eat that next snack or meal. And thus starts a cycle that could potentially last from Dec 24 to Jan 2nd. (a whole week!)
   2. Start tracking
      I know I know. No one wants to be that person trying to calorie count every appetizer at the office Christmas party. But a little tracking could do wonders to help stay on track around buffet tables and hors d’oeuvres stations even if you aren’t the type to write everything down.
      I like to use apps to help me track in these situations. Don’t want to appear like you are texting on your phone all night? Make a voice-to-text note on your phone and add to it throughout the night to help you keep tally. The list alone will show you how much you are eating and of what.
      Then, if you want to know the breakdown, you can log them into a food tracking app like MyFitnessPal (https://www.myfitnesspal.com/) at the end of the night or the next morning to get a real look at what you ate.
   3. Party Smartly
      If tracking isn’t your thing, here’s a tip for you. When faced with a buffet table, enjoy some of the vegetable-based appetizers first, then the meat or cheese appetizers.
      Place your apps on your napkin instead of a plate and you’ll be less likely to overfill and pile it high!
      If a conversation strikes up near the buffet table or food, take a few steps away. This will help you avoid mindless nibbles while you mingle and let other guests flow around the food easily. Staying hydrated will also help you feel full. Keep a calorie-free drink like club soda with a twist of lemon in your hand to keep your hands busy.
   4. Bring a healthy option with you
      Many gatherings are like pitch-ins but even if this event isn’t no one will refuse another addition to the food table if you choose to bring one. Bringing along one of your favorite healthy snacks will ensure that there is something for you to eat that you KNOW for a fact fits with your lifestyle. Who knows, you may have just saved the day for someone else at the party trying to stay on track too!
   5. Budget for your carbs and sweets together
      If you know that Aunt Jean is going to be bringing your favorite pecan pie like she always does, and that you DEFINITELY want to indulge in a piece of it…choose meat, side vegetables and salad at dinner to help compensate for the sugar and carbs of that ooey, gooey, delicious pie.
   6. Moderate Liquor
      It’s no surprise that watching your alcohol intake is a big part of staying on track with healthy decisions during the holidays. The calories and sugar can vary greatly from drink to drink so it’s best to research your favorites and plan ahead. Drinking water in between each alcoholic beverage will help you stay hydrated and consume less alcohol overall.
   7. Fit in some activity
      Sticking to your regular workout schedule might be tricky during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. If you are finding that 60 minutes at a time isn’t possible, break it up into smaller increments of 15 minutes instead. Go for a walk after dinner to see the neighborhood’s festive light displays or recruit other adults into taking the kids sledding.
   8. Don’t get stuck on making “mistakes.”
      Even with all these tips in your toolbox, there is always a possibility that you may eat or drink a little more than planned. No worries. Drink some water, move forward and don’t allow this to stress you out. You will be sure to make better choices tomorrow.
   9. It’s okay to say “No.” Don’t feel pressured to try your host’s special dish. If you are already satisfied just say, “No, thank you.” If you are afraid of offending them, you can say, “I am all set at this point, but this stuffing is delicious.” Complimenting them on other dishes will hopefully help decrease their focus on what they are nudging you to try.
   10. Enjoy your food. Last but not least, it is important to enjoy some of your favorite foods, but don’t forget to make sure you keep your eating balanced. To maintain this balance, make sure to include proteins, fats, grains, fruits and veggies. Keep in mind, there will likely be plenty of leftovers and you can always have another slice of that pie tomorrow.

I hope that some of these tips help you navigate this holiday season feeling confident in being able to make great healthy choices while surrounded by temptations. The most important thing is to focus on family and friends and not entirely on your health regime. Enjoy what you eat and savor each bite. Keep things balanced by remembering to include time for exercise and relaxation too and you will be starting the new year feeling good about your steady maintenance during the holidays.