The holidays are a wonderful time to connect with family and friends! However, they can be a stressful time as well. There tend to be more social events, family may visit, and if money is tight, it can add even more stress. There are usually more temptations around food starting as early as Halloween and lasting until the New Year. We put together a list of ideas to reduce stress and stay healthy this holiday season!

Be mindful

Holidays can be stressful for many reasons. Try not to be hard on yourself. Forgive yourself for food choices that you make around the holidays. Once the holidays are over, restart where you left off. Eat meals with a balance of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Get back to your old exercise routine, or begin a new physical activity.

Plan ahead

Prepare healthy snacks such as sliced apples and peanut butter, whole wheat crackers with sliced cheese, or cut vegetables with low-fat ranch dressing to have on hand. When hunger strikes, or you are offered baked goods or other snacks, you can have a healthy snack ready! That way you will be less likely to overindulge. Plan healthy, well balanced meals to have ready when you are too busy and may be tempted to eat out or choose something less healthy.

Don’t skip meals

Eat a small meal that has both carbohydrate and protein before any big holiday meals. Skipping meals can cause your blood sugar to drop and can lead to extreme hunger and affect your ability to say “no” to less than ideal food choices. Some small meal ideas for you and your child might be half of a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, or a small cheese and chicken quesadilla with salsa.

Plan physical activities with family

Get outside and enjoy some fresh air! Even something as simple as a brisk walk around the block can make a big difference if you make it a habit. Or, if the weather is not very nice, take a look at some of these ideas to get moving inside with your children:

• Have a dance party
• Make an obstacle course with furniture
• Make a scavenger hunt
• Play Follow the Leader, Duck Duck Goose, or Simon Says
• Clean up after a big meal

Drink plenty of water

Staying well hydrated will help prevent overdoing it with sugary drinks (think cider and hot chocolate) that are around during the holidays. Staying hydrated also helps to keep you feeling fuller longer before and after large meals.  Help yourself drink more water by carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go.  If you need to mix things up, try infusing your water with fruit, herbs or spices, such as a handful of frozen blueberries with a few slices of lemon and cucumber! 

Get plenty of sleep

Not getting enough sleep can increase stress levels. Higher stress levels can lead to overeating. Make your room as dark as possible and turn off electronics like cellphones and tablets at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Take care of yourself during the holidays, try to go to bed at the same time each night, and aim for 8 hours of sleep. Good sleep is also very important for babies and children. They need quality sleep for their brain development. Children will be better behaved and function better when they have had between 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

 

Finally, enjoy yourself! The holidays only come once a year. Do something special for yourself that you enjoy. Take care of yourself, and…

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Weld County WIC!