By Marycela Barron, RD, LD
The holidays are here and with the season comes many festive activities, and, of course, lots of food. While some of the choices may be high in empty calories, such as high in sugar, saturated fat and low in protein and fiber, there are ways to navigate the season in a healthy manner.
Here are a few tips to get you and your family started!
- The holidays are not occurring all season long. For example, you may celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year in the months of November through January. Keep in mind, those are only three days! Be mindful of this as you celebrate the season, where you may find yourself falling into “it’s the holidays!” trap – avoid the pitfalls of overeating.
- Do not skip meals. It is easy to fall into the mentality that skipping meals will help you save calories for a “big meal” later in the day. This will not help you, as you will likely overeat when you have planned your meal.
- Drink plenty of water. If you’re not a huge fan of plain water, add some color, using lemon or lime slices.
- Be mindful of portion sizes with items like dessert and chips. Chew slowly, indulge mindfully.
- Make fruits and veggies the stars of your meal. Fill half your plate with fruits and veggies; taste the rainbow by choosing different colored choices. Perhaps you can try something new this holiday season!
- Be active. Go ahead and burn off some extra energy while looking for activities everyone can enjoy safely. Also, be mindful of the weather, age differences and activity levels/abilities.
If you have any additional tips, please share with your Meals on Wheels family by posting or commenting on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! We love to hear from our clients and their families. Let’s spread some holiday cheer… Happy Holidays!
You can also spread MORE holiday cheer by donating to Meals on Wheels. Call 210.735.5115 for any questions, comments or concerns.