How to Avoid Overeating this Holiday Season
By Sara Butler
Your health is one of the most important things you have. Without it, the things you can do are limited. Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean that– you’re off the hook to take care of yourself. One of the pitfalls associated with this time of year is the tendency to overindulge. Here are a few strategies you can use to help stay healthy and get to the new year relatively unscathed.
Simplify
A trap a lot of people fall into this time of year is being so busy that they don’t take the time to eat right. Since you’re running around, going to parties, social gatherings and doing your holiday shopping on top of everything else in your life, there’s not a lot of time left for things like dinner. The best strategy is to simplify your dinners and create dishes that are easy to whip up in a jiffy.
You can try a simple salad with vinaigrette, some avocado, and lentils. That way you’re avoiding processed, prepacked food or fast food and fueling your busy body with quality food.
Get Some Sun
It’s not exactly the time of year people think of sunbathing, but it’s important to remember to still get sun so your body can make the Vitamin D you need to stay healthy and happy all winter. In many places, the sun isn’t out as much during this time of year, but your body needs Vitamin D to help keep your immune system healthy and your bones strong. So go out in the sun for a few minutes in the afternoon when the sun is brightest to get your dose.
When You Treat Yourself
Look, no one expects you to say no to everything that’s unhealthy for you during the holidays, but you have to give it some consideration. A good strategy is to rank them on a scale of one to five. One can represent things you’re ambivalent about, while five can represent the things you really, really want. If something isn’t at least a 4, then give it a pass. That way you can have some of the things you want, but don’t go overboard.
Get Physical
This time of year, exercise needs to be a priority. The day of a big event where you know you might want to indulge, eat a good quality meal and then do something active such as go for a walk or jog. This will help you to maintain balance.