Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Like most of us growing up, my family always celebrated Thanksgiving with lots of relatives coming for a big turkey dinner with all the traditional fixings. I loved having everyone together, and still do. On a few Thanksgiving holidays, we ordered pizza for lunch so we didn’t have to prepare another meal while cooking the “big” meal. Relatives usually started arriving around 1:00 pm with pies and bakery cookies. I loved helping with the cooking and getting the house ready for company. The best part was when we all finally sat down at the table together. I’d look around at everyone and smile with genuine love and gratitude. After our relatives left, we’d take out the leftovers around 10:00 pm and have a second dinner!
Now that I have my own family, we still like to have relatives come for Thanksgiving. For me, it’s just not Thanksgiving without family around, and this year I am so happy to be getting ready for a full house!
What comes to mind when you hear the words “Help yourself?” Maybe help yourself refers to a buffet of food, or maybe it has new meaning to take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and doing what you need to be healthy and happy. Like the flight attendant on the airplane says "Put on your own oxygen mask before you help others." This year I am doing the unthinkable and having a restaurant cater some of our Thanksgiving meal! After all I still have to polish the silver, iron the table cloths, clean the house, and the list goes on. I love to do it, but at what cost to my health. I'm going to enjoy our family and not be stuck in the kitchen (as much).
After years of fighting with extra pounds, then losing weight, I’ve learned some simple strategies for managing the holidays starting with Halloween candy, and going clear through to the New Year celebrations.
Here are 5 simple strategies for managing your health (and weight) through the holidays. If you receive my newsletter, you may have seen these tips there.
1. Continue to eat a healthy breakfast every day. Just because you know you are going to have a big holiday dinner with dessert doesn’t mean you should skip breakfast – you might overindulge later. An egg bake or overnight oats prepared the night before means that breakfast just needs to be heated in the oven in the morning.
2. Continue your usual exercise routine, or if it needs an upgrade, use the holidays as an opportunity for some new activity with the family. Perhaps take a walk or a hike before or after the big meal, or join a local Turkey Trot. If you don’t have a usual exercise routine, start slowly now by asking yourself what you could start doing. What kinds of activities do you enjoy? This time of year you could start with some functional activities like apple picking, raking leaves, and parking further at the mall when shopping.
3. Plan your holiday meals with traditional foods but think about adding in a new vegetable dish, or substitute a vegetable dish for a healthier version. Think color when planning your meals to ensure getting a variety of vitamins, minerals and health benefits as well as a beautiful plate. For some traditional holiday table swaps see the recipe section. www.maryellenzung.com/recipes
4. Plan to feel good after the Holiday Party by visualizing and mentally rehearsing your party plan. What will you eat and drink? What will you plan not to eat or drink? Who do you want to catch up with? Who do you want to get to know better? Visualize taking one plate and moving away from the table in order to prevent mindless munching. Then at the party, follow through on your plan. You can also plan to bring a healthy delicious dish. Here are some ideas www.maryellenzung.com/recipes
5. Stick to a good sleep routine. There are a lot more items on our “to do” lists during the holidays. Getting enough sleep will help keep you healthy, balanced, and in control to make decisions to support your health. Delegate tasks, decide what can fall away, and remember the true meaning of each holiday.
What will you do? I’d love to know if you already do these things, and what else you do to stay healthy during the holidays.