Healthy Holidays

by Lindsay White

It is easier to click ‘buy’ on your computer than to go out and deal with the frantic holiday shopping. But what happens to all of that exercise spent walking around looking for deals? This is a bad time of the year to take a vacation from your exercise and health. Even though it is bitterly cold outside and the food is hard to deny, you should be keeping up with the same healthy routines.

One of the best things about exercise is that you can eat whatever you want (within reason) and then burn it off with some exercise. Do fifty jumping jacks or 100 crunches nightly to keep your fitness in shape. Parking in the back of the store parking lot instead of the front is a great way to burn a few calories. Also, take a friend with you to the gym and you can gossip there while running on the treadmill. But do not set unrealistic exercise goals. Allow twenty minutes instead of an hour if you are running late. Once the snow kicks in, shovel instead of snow blowing your walkway. Build a snowman or have a snowball fight. Even ice-skating is a great way to burn calories.

All of the foods that you mindlessly snack on tend to add up the calories you do not want. However, if done the right way, you can eat what you want and still be fit. Take eggnog for example. When you buy eggnog, try picking the light version. Also, use half eggnog and half milk when preparing a drink for yourself. Since eggnog is in the top 5 worst holiday foods. Along with dips, creamy soups, mashed potatoes, and pecan pie. Instead of a creamy spinach dip, use salsa. Instead of mashed potatoes, prepare roasted potatoes. And as for pecan pie, mostly any other dessert is better than this. Try pumpkin pie; it has less calories and fat.

When going to a holiday party, eat a little something before leaving to suppress your appetite. Since most of the food at the party will most likely be packed with calories. Take a little bit of everything you would like to try on a small plate. It stops you from over-eating and still keeps you satisfied. Staying hydrated is also important. Keep water with you at all times and sip when you feel your getting hungry. Most importantly be safe and have a good holiday!