|
‘Tis the Season to Stay Healthy |
|
|
|
Keep Your Family on Track With These Helpful Hints By Lauren Anderson  The average American gains seven to 10 pounds each holiday season, which proves that even as adults, we have a hard time saying no to our favorite treats. And if we can’t monitor ourselves during the most wonderful time of the year, how on earth can we expect our children to? At FitKids, we know how hard it is—hey, we’re human too—so here are a few ideas from our editors to help keep your family fit during the holiday season.
Take the Focus Off the Food “My family eats our traditional dinner early in the afternoon (around 1 or 2 p.m.), then we head to the movies. It’s a great way to spend time together on the holiday—plus, it gets us out of the house and away from the temptation to snack on those delicious leftovers.”—Lauren
Save Up for the Big Days “Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are each only one day. Splurging a little on those days isn’t the end of the world. Just don’t get caught up in the holiday rush on the days, and weeks, before. Grabbing a burger at the mall during your holiday shopping sounds like a great idea, but it’s a short-term fix with long-term repercussions. When you eat healthy during times of stress, you have more energy and can enjoy the treats when big day rolls around.”—Joe
Keep Healthy Alternatives on Hand “We’re a snack-y type of family. That’s why I keep cut veggies and a light veggie dip handy during the holidays. I also cut salami and light cheese and keep them in the refrigerator. Then for dinner, I serve healthy vegetable dishes along with salad as sides to our delish turkey.”—Susan
Walk Around the Neighborhood “In areas where the weather permits, bundle up and walk around the block after dinner with friends and family. It gives you a chance to get some fresh air, and some quality time to talk. Plus, I love looking at the holiday displays in the neighborhood and it can get you out of doing the dishes!”—Ruth
Snack Smart “I travel across the country every year to see my family for the holidays. Eating healthy when traveling is hard. And waiting a long time between eating means you’re more likely to splurge. If you can, have a healthy snack every three hours. I love clementines as a winter treat—they pack well and are easy to peel and refreshing.”—Elizabeth
Promote Fitness“I try to make at least one gift from Santa something active. Last year, we bought our daughter a bike and she uses it all the time. This year, we got her some fun, active games, among other things. We're also planning to take her ice skating at the local rink when we're off work.”—Christina
Expert Corner The experts at the Dayton Children’s Hospital give the following suggestions for eating well during the holidays: - Offer to bring a low-calorie dish to parties. This way, you’ll know that at least one healthy item is on hand.
- Stay hydrated. We crave sweets when thirsty, and traveling in heated cars, staying in hotels or flying all induce dehydration. Push fluids for total health.
- Eat high-fiber foods that leave you feeling more satisfied than carbohydrates. Whenever they’re available, choose fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains or dried beans.
- Get adequate sleep. When you and you’re children are tired, you’re more likely to crave sweets. As hard as it is during the holidays, make sleep a priority.
For more recommendations from the hospital, click here . |
New layer... |
