Maintaining Health During Easter and Other Holidays

By Brandi Goodman 

Easter arrives every spring, and though it's intended meaning was for the resurrection of Jesus in the Christian religion, many people celebrate this day with chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and an egg hunt. Maintaining health during Easter and other holidays can be difficult when candy and food have become the norm for celebrating them. It is possible, however, to maintain your health as long as you make some changes to the way you celebrate those special occasions when chocolates and sweets are part of the festivities.

Incorporate Fitness

A great way to celebrate a holiday is to incorporate some sort of fitness event. This is easy for Easter because the egg hunt is already a common activity people use to honor the holiday. Hide lots of eggs outdoors if weather permits for everyone to find. Make some for the adults as well so they can get in on the fitness fun. Everyone can get their exercise in for the day as they spend their time running around the yard attempting to find all the eggs. 

Give a Health-Related Gift

Whether you need to purchase a gift for Christmas or fill a stocking or Easter basket with goodies, you can select health-related items instead of candy and food baskets or other things that aren't really necessary. A jump rope, chalk, gift card to a sports store, and small fitness gear items are all great choices. If you still want to offer a treat, create homemade versions you can wrap instead of store-bought choices that contain extra sugar and calories. 

Make a Healthy Dinner

Many families celebrate Easter and other holidays with a dinner that allows everyone to get together. Make sure this meal is a healthy one with a focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and water rather than large helpings of potatoes, pies, and other fattening dishes. Don't offer other beverages at all. Stick with plain water and a fruit-infused water for people to drink. Serve a vegetable tray and fruit tray. Provide a lean meat as the main dish, such as chicken or even duck instead of a red meat. 

Stop focusing so much on the candy and food aspect of the holidays. You don't need to give a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day or a jumbo-size Easter bunny when that holiday arrives. There's plenty of ways to make all holidays healthier so everyone can celebrate guilt-free. 

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Round Rock, Tex.