Tips for a Healthy Holiday #1-#5

Getting through the holidays can be tough in so many ways. So here are some tips to make it through and still stay on track:

#1 - Watch your stress levels at all times. Pray God guides you and your mouth. Try and keep is tightly closed during conversations you know from past experience, are going nowhere good. Remember, your family comes from different situations and they will all have different opinions. Try and appreciate each of them for who they are. Don't stress about what they think of your cooking, house cleaning, or what your tree and decorations look like. Take big breaths and stay calm. Stress is a huge factor for bad eating and throwing your hormones into a tizzy. Be wise and keep the conversation to that which you know are safe.

#2 - It's is obvious by different shapes and sizes of family members they are not all on the same diet and workout program you may be. Christmas is not a time to try and convince them to eat healthy and put down the junk food. It's hard enough for US not to eat all the cookies, cakes, and pies. Let alone someone who does not have the health knowledge which you now have. Let them be and enjoy the time talking about something other than fitness. I know it's your passion, but if it's not theirs they will not hear a word you say and perceive you, well, as a donkey's behind.

#3 - With my family, both sides, we do not do a formal sit down Christmas dinner. We have lots of yummy finger foods displayed on festive trays and we "graze" for hours. This can be very dangerous for someone watching their calories. Fill up on the veggie tray which the majority of the family ignores and then leave the room where the snacks are displayed.

#4 - Eat the sugary Christmas foods in moderation. It wouldn't be right to say you have to go the entire holiday season without a star shaped cookie with sprinkles or your mom's fudge. Remember, if you have been eating healthy, your body will go into serious sugar shock. This could make your holiday quite miserable. More so then just passing on the cookie and not having one at all.

#5 - Alcohol at Christmas may help you relax and get you through the next conversation but it can give you the major munchies and cloud your calorie judgement. Take into account the alcohol itself has empty calories (calories which provide your body with zero nutrition). You probably won't be counting those calories every time you refill your glass. If you have alcohol at Christmas, try and stick to dry red wines as they have less sugar content. Pass on the rum and egg nog or have a very small taste to please your host. Egg nog purchased at the grocer is horrible for you. (That's a whole 'nother article.) If it's homemade egg nog, it shouldn't be as bad as it's missing the preservatives and HFCS but loaded with sugar. So choose the wine and keep it to a minimum.

Look for more tips to come, as we all try and make it through this sugary holiday. Be blessed and remember, it's about Jesus and family. Not about how much you eat or don't. So just relax...