'Tis the Season to be Healthy

Healthy Eating over the Holidays

by Hannah Perry

Is that an oxymoron? Is this the time to splurge with your calorie counting and exercising and give in to the rich foods and sweets of the season? Well, before you say, “sure, why not!?” please consider your stress level.

As you know, the holidays can be a very stressful time. According to “The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale”, which is a tool that helps us measure the stress load we carry, Christmas alone adds stress. Then, there are the changes in eating and sleeping habits, social activities, the number of family get-togethers, arguments with your spouse and trouble with the in-laws...these are all items outlined on the stress scale that come with the holidays!

One way to manage stress is through healthy eating and exercise. This is the time of year we drink extra hot chocolate and eat too many cookies and fattening foods--and then, we all say “ho ho ho” and pass the eggnog! Yet, it should be the time of year we are most aware of our eating habits. I’m not saying you should insult Grandma by turning down her famous triple chocolate pudding cake. But, there are some tangible ways we can manage our health and wellness and in turn, our stress:

-        Before You Splurge...OK, eat grandma’s cake, but before you bite into your second slice, pause and eat a carrot, some celery, a piece of fruit or other healthy snack. . . You may find out that you’re no longer hungry for that extra slice after all.

-        Switch It Up. Instead of drinking that vanilla latté every morning, when you know you’re going to end up drinking eggnog at the holiday party that evening, make a switch. Switch the morning fat and sugar of the latté for an herbal tea and enjoy that eggnog later.

-        Appreciate Your Food. Concentrate on each bite and flavor of the food in front of you. This will help you to eat slower and appreciate what you’ve been given. It’s also the best time to pass on the manufactured food and savor the homemade goodness of local establishments.

-        Save It! Growing up with a dentist for a father during the holiday season we were bombarded with sweets and treats from patients (yes, even dentists' families eat sweets) which meant there was ALWAYS something around to eat. My mom started freezing some of the treats and saving them for later days to minimize our intake and the need to eat it all  before it went bad. By eliminating the presence of the treats we stopped reaching for them.

The best way to eat healthier over the holidays is to be aware of your weaknesses and use the tips above to tame the desire. Of course it’s not always that simple…but avoiding that sugar hangover you’ll have the next morning may very well be worth it!