How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
Navigating the holidays while staying on track with healthy eating and habits can be challenging, but it is absolutely possible to enjoy the season without derailing your progress or feeling like you did major damage.
Here’s how:
Allow yourself to enjoy – Remember, you are allowed to have fun and not feel shame. Aim for moderate portions and try not to overdo it, but if you do, it’s okay. You can always get back on track and move forward. Life doesn’t end because of one (or a few) bad days.
Walk! – I aim for around 8,000–10,000 steps (or more) on days I plan to indulge. I break it up with a walk in the morning or before the event, and another walk afterward. Walking after meals is especially important—it helps your body digest food better, reduces bloating, and lowers blood sugar spikes from sugary foods which prevents energy crashes and helps your body burn off the food rather than store it as fat.
Hydrate throughout the day – Drink plenty of water (around 2L) to support your digestive system and help process and eliminate what you eat more efficiently.
Take digestive bitters before large meals – This supports your digestive system to better digest the food you eat and can help prevent bloating, heartburn, and indigestion. They work wonders! Digestive bitters are available at health food stores and must be taken right before a meal.
Load up on veggies and protein first – Before any large meal, have a generous serving of (low-starchy) vegetables and some high-quality protein (meat, fish, seafood, etc.). This provides nutrients and fiber to help you fill you up and prevent overeating.
Have sweets after a meal, never before – Eating sugar after a meal lowers blood sugar spikes, helping prevent energy crashes and allowing your body to better process indulgences and burn them off rather than storing them as fat.
Slow down and savor each bite – Be present and enjoy your food. Putting down your fork between bites or taking small pauses prevents overeating without making you feel deprived.
Eat something healthy before the event – If you’re going somewhere that only offers processed or sugary foods, have a nourishing mini meal or snack beforehand. This way, your body is nourished, and you can enjoy small amounts of indulgent foods without having to fill up on them and feel like crap afterward.
