Tips For Keeping The Holidays Healthy

The Christmas holidays are a busy time of year for most people.

There are many Christmas parties, shopping trips, and family get-togethers to enjoy during the Christmas break.

Unfortunately, it is common for people to experience declining health during the holidays, including weight gain, accidents, and illnesses.

This article will share several essential tips to help you avoid these problems and stay healthy this holiday break.

Watch what you eat

One of the best parts of Christmas is enjoying a few delicious meals with friends and family.

For most people living in the UK, Christmas dinners involves plenty of roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, turkey, Yorkshire pudding, custard tarts, English trifle and other scrumptious desserts.

The problem with eating all of this delicious food is that it is easy to overindulge and put on a few extra kilograms.

Here are a few tips for avoiding this common health problem:

Look for healthy alternative recipes

There are many healthy alternatives to the traditional foods that we love.

Instead of eating custard tarts for dessert, consider a fruit salad.

Instead of having mashed potatoes loaded with butter and cheese, use salt/pepper, garlic, herbs, and a splash of olive oil with your potatoes.

You can also look for healthy variations of recipes for trifle, Yorkshire pudding and other deserts.

Eat in moderation

Just because there is a lot of food on the dinner table, that doesn’t mean you need to eat it all!

Be vigilant about the amount of food that you pile onto your plate and only eat until you are full.

Avoid processed foods

Homemade dishes are almost always healthier than pre-made, canned or processed foods.

Most processed foods will contain more sugar and salt than you would normally use in a home made recipe.

Add more vegetables to your recipes

Vegetables are a great source of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

Give your Christmas dinner a healthy boost by adding as many vegetables as you can squeeze in.

Instead of making a potato bake, make a veggie bake packed with sweet potato, beans, peas, carrots, pumpkin, potato and whatever else you can think of.

The meal will be much more satisfying and nutritious.

Take steps to avoid the flu

It’s common for people in the UK to catch the flu over the Christmas period.

The risk of contracting this illness increases because people are often indoors and in close quarters with others who have the flu.

Your immune system may also be compromised if you are drinking a lot of alcohol, further increasing the risk.

Here are a few tips for avoiding the flu this Christmas:

•   Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
•   Avoid touching your face
•   Get a flu shot
•   Avoid people who are are coughing or sneezing
•   Clean communal areas in your home daily
•   Avoid sharing food with infected people
•   Eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol to keep your immune system strong

Use stress relief techniques

Christmas can be a very stressful time of year.

Dealing with financial stress, chaotic visits to the shopping centre, and antagonistic relatives can be mentally exhausting.

Look after your mental health during the Christmas period by taking regular “time outs”.

Use this time to:

•   Go for a walk outside
•   Listen to some music
•   Meditate
•   Read a book
•   Watch some funny videos online
•   Get some exercise

Don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol

Many people living in the UK use Christmas as an excuse to drink excessively.

While it can be fun to have a few drinks with friends and family, excessive drinking inevitably leads to a hangover, weight gain and other negative consequences for your health.

Avoid the over consumption of alcohol by setting a hard limit on the number of drinks you can have each day.

You could also alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones to reduce the total amount of alcohol you consume.

Think about car safety

Road accidents are common during the Christmas period.

This is due to a number of factors including driver fatigue, drink driving, congested roads, and excessive speed.

Reduce these risks by only driving short distances and avoiding alcohol.

You should also make sure your vehicle is safe to drive, by having it checked by a mechanic.

Keep a close eye on your children

Children are more likely to sustain and injury during the Christmas period.

Keep a close eye on their activity with a focus on dangerous toys, consumption of unsafe food/drinks, and exposure to dangerous household items.

Take care to protect your children from falls, burns, drowning, and other dangers.

Practice good food safety

If you are cooking a lot during the Christmas period, it is important to ensure that all of the food you make is safe to eat.

Wash your hands frequently, avoid cross-contamination between foods, store foods correctly, and make sure meat is correctly cooked.

Thanks for reading Tips For Keeping The Holidays Healthy.

Do you have any healthy holiday tips that you want to share?

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