2020 has been a unique year for MANY reasons. As we head into the last couple months of this year, it looks like that will hold true for our holiday season as well. After months of social distancing, varied levels of isolation, and many people being separated from their loved ones, one big question remains: How are we going to handle the holidays?
I can’t predict the future, but I can say one thing with near certainty—regardless of whether you decide to travel or stay home, attend/host parties or skip gatherings altogether … You WILL encounter holiday food.
So how can we make smart choices this year when it comes to our nutrition, fitness, and overall wellness, without depriving ourselves of the joy and fun that often comes with preparing (and eating) our favorite seasonal goodies?
Here are a few of my go-to tips for getting through the holidays with the perfect amount of intentionality and balance:
Choose Your Strategy In Advance
There are three strategies when it comes to holiday eating:
- You can eat whatever you want and accept that you might feel a little sluggish or gain a little weight.
- You can swear off treats altogether, stick to your healthy eating plan, and power on through the new year knowing you’ve got iron willpower.
- You can make some really intentional choices, cut yourself a few breaks, and focus on simply maintaining your current level of health instead of going gung-ho after any big goals.
There isn’t a right or wrong choice here—the decision is 100% up to you. The important thing is that you make it a conscious choice rather than mindlessly eating whatever sweets land in front of you and then feeling frustrated later.
Related Post: ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES, STAY HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS & FEEL GREAT TOO
Look For Easy Ways to Make Good Choices
No one is expecting you to eat grilled chicken salads all winter and hit the gym every day, ESPECIALLY this year. But there are a few easy ways to make smart choices this holiday season.
In addition to keeping up your usual healthy habits, you could also:
- Choose naturally sugar-free drinks, or herbal tea instead of cocoa and super-sweet lattes.
- Give yourself permission to eat a couple of cookies—but stop at a couple.
- Commit to giving yourself 30 minutes of “me time” at the end of every evening until January 1.
The possibilities for eating cleaner, moving more, and recharging your batteries more frequently are virtually endless, so take a look at your habits and see what you can come up with.
Go Ahead & Accept the Fact That Everything Won’t Go According to Plan
Obviously, we create plans with the intention of sticking to them … But sometimes, stuff happens. Especially this time of year, it’s likely that you’ll occasionally overeat, skip a workout, or forget to budget for recharge time and end up a little stressed.
If/when that happens … Do your best to let it go. Show yourself some grace, and start with a clean slate the next day.
What are your plans for the holidays? Are you going to stick strictly to your plan, give yourself a few months off, or shoot for something in the middle? Share your thoughts in the comments!
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
