9 Tips to Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

The holidays are upon us. And that means Christmas parties, Christmas baking and chocolates and treats wherever you look. Temptation is everywhere – but that doesn't mean your diet or healthy habits have to go out the window. Here are some helpful tips for finding that balance between enjoying yourself and still staying healthy over the holidays.

1. Don't overindulge on food – Moderation is key. You can have a Christmas cookie or square, but you don't need 3 of each. Cut the treat in half or in smaller pieces so you can sample bite-size pieces instead of the full treat. Have a spoonful of something instead of a bowl full. This will all add up.
2. When you go to a holiday party, have a light, healthy snack beforehand (bonus points for something high in fibre that will make you feel more full like apples or carrots). That way you won't be starving when you're at the party and more likely to overeat all those tasty appetizers and desserts.
3. If you're at a buffet, fill half your plate with veggies first and then select your protein and starches.
4. Eat regularly over the holidays. We can get pretty busy and skip meals. But that can lead to overeating later on when you're hungry and presented with a lot of food. Keep healthy snacks at your desk or in your purse like celery sticks, fruit or unsalted nuts.
5. If you really want Christmas baked goods, make your own! This way you'll know what's in them and you can avoid the extra fat and sugar that are often in store bought treats. Use healthy alternatives where you can, like skim milk or egg whites.
6. There are lots of empty calories in alcohol, so limit your drinks. If you want to have a cocktail, try mixing your drink with soda water (no calories) or low-sugar juice. Or make a fun, festive “mocktail" with sparkling water and low calorie cranberry juice.
7. Drink lots of water. If you're having alcohol, drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.
8. Keep up with the exercise – The holidays are busy but you need to find time to keep up your workout routine. Even if you can't do your regular workout 4-5 times a week, how about 2 times a week? Or you can plan out short, 10-minute workouts or split your workouts into manageable segments by finding 15 minutes 2 or 3 times throughout the day (walk the stairs, walk around the block, lift weights, do some simple workouts at your desk on your lunch break, etc.)
9. If you're traveling a lot visiting friends or family over the holidays, pack some small fitness accessories with you so you can continue your workout on the road. Strength bands or tubes are light and don't take up a lot of space. Flaman Fitness sells many smaller products that you could easily bring with you like, exercise balls, dumbbells or skipping ropes. How about the RIP 60 suspension trainer, all you need is a doorway and you have a home gym. Spending a few minutes doing some simple exercises will help you stick to your goals if you can't get to the gym or bring your treadmill with you.