Healthy holidays: 6 tips for maintaining good habits

The holidays dish up a triple whammy of wintry weather, irresistible foods and stress, which can cause even the strongest-willed person to reach for another festive goodie.

These six tips for at-home strategies can help you maintain your healthy habits throughout the holidays:

1. Embrace eating in.

Try to prepare more meals at home, even though the temptation may be to order carryout. Start by having the ingredients for healthy meals at hand. When shopping, fill most of your cart with foods from the perimeter of the store, such as fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, seafood, eggs and low-fat dairy. Add in healthy middle-of-the-store items, including whole-wheat pastas, grains, seeds, nuts, beans and wild or brown rice. Make a meal look festive by covering half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.

2. Don’t skip breakfast.

A balanced breakfast is an integral part of any daily diet. For kids, breakfast is necessary to provide energy for the brain and body. Skipping breakfast — or any meal for that matter — doesn’t help adults either. Studies show that those who eat balanced meals throughout the day have a higher metabolism and better appetite control.

3. Jettison the juice.

Most juices contain added sugar, providing unnecessary calories to your child’s diet. Kids benefit much more from fresh fruits and vegetables, which offer natural sweetness, along with fiber — and they’re fun to eat. This advice applies to adults too. That fruit smoothie may appear to be a nutritious snack, but with a calorie count often reaching 300–500, you may want to reach for a high-fiber, satisfying piece of fruit instead, and save the smoothie calories for a special splurge.

4. Stay active.

Exercise is the secret to holding the (waist)line when holiday indulgences beckon. Choose fun, aerobic activities, such as ice skating or sledding with friends and family, and incorporate them into your winter plans. If you prefer a warm fire to cold winds, seek out indoor activities, like shooting baskets at your local gym, working out on exercise equipment, challenging yourself with exercise-based video games, DVD workout programs or jumping rope with your kids.

5.Strive for balance.

Combining healthy foods, regular exercise and adequate sleep will help you build and restore your energy reserves and reduce stress. The outcome? You’ll feel better and more grounded to withstand the rush of the holidays.

6. When in doubt, ask an expert.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more active, consider scheduling a physical with your health care team before you get started. A registered dietitian can provide nutritional guidance that addresses the unique needs of your body and lifestyle.

Get more tips on healthy holiday celebrations.

Anne Harguth is a dietitian in Nutrition in Waseca, Minnesota.