Guest Post by Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD, registered dietitian, educator and mom of two who blogs at Real Mom Nutrition.
It’s all too easy to let your massive to-do lists be the centerpiece of the holiday season. Between parties, school programs, shopping, decorating and baking, it can feel like we’re rushing from one thing to the next in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. We end up feeling drained and grouchy instead of inspired and connected. When there is a sliver of downtime, it’s tempting to spend it parked on the couch, nibbling on holiday cookies.
Let this year be different. With a few simple moves, you can put health and wellbeing at the center of your holiday. You’ll be amazed by how it tames the stress of the season and gives your mood and energy level a genuine lift. Here are six healthy choices to make:
Plan for treats. I love holiday goodies as much as the next person—and I don’t restrict what my kids can eat when we’re at parties and relatives’ homes. But if we’re headed to a food-filled gathering later, I make sure we cut back on sweets and treats at home that day, forgoing dessert and snacking on fresh fruit and protein-rich foods like cheese and smoothies.
Create active holiday traditions. In our family, a Thanksgiving weekend football game has grown from a casual pick-up match to personalized shirts, organized plays and a homemade trophy for the winner. That means hours spent outside playing instead of inside watching TV. Not football fans? A family hike, fun run or backyard kickball game works too.
Limit screens. A magical thing happens when kids (and grown-ups!) don’t have the option of playing video games and watching TV: They find something to do that’s usually more creative and a lot more active. Older kids can hoof it to the park with a ball and some friends. Young kids can set up an “obstacle course” in the living room with couch cushions and pillows. While your kids are on holiday break, consider a screen-time limit of no more than 1–2 hours a day.
Serve a “snack dinner.” If the craziness of the holiday season equals too many drive-thru dinners or pizza delivery, serve a “snack dinner” instead. Pull out a few serving platters and load them with whatever is in your fridge: Sliced fruit, raw veggie sticks, chunks of cheese, whole grain crackers, pieces of leftover grilled chicken, tubs of hummus and other dips. Your kids will get a kick out it, and a snack dinner is cheaper, easier and a whole lot healthier than greasy fast food or takeout.
Give experiences as gifts. Your kids may not remember all of the toys they had, but they’ll definitely remember the experiences. In lieu of more stuff, consider giving active experiences as presents: a lift ticket to a local ski resort, an overnight for the family at a local park lodge, a day doing a zipline or ropes course or a season pass to the ice skating rink.
Take after-dinner walks. This one is so simple that it’s easy to overlook. Though my kids may grumble about getting their winter coats and shoes when it’s dark and chilly, everyone’s moods are always changed for the better by the time we return home. There’s something about being out in the fresh air and getting our hearts pumping that always reconnects us.
Click here for more ideas for cutting stress and saving time at the holidays.
