by Tara Knudson

Created on: July 30, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Strategies for Healthy Holidays

The holidays bring party invitations and long-lost friends into your schedule, tossing gym visits and salads out the backdoor. Getting caught up on the lives of loved ones is important, and graciously accepting a 4th tray of butter-laden baking is a must, so how can the calories be kept off the belly and hips, while memories are welcomed into the heart?

SMART SNACKING
The holidays are a time for social eating, so take the initiative to have heart-healthy foods within easy reach. A dish of almonds, a platter of fresh pineapple and bananas with yogurt for dipping, or a bowl of salsa with tortilla chips are all foods that promote regularity, are low calorie and provide a good nutritional punch.

FREEZE, REGIFT, SHARE
Even if you manage to restrain yourself when it comes to baking your own endless batches of rum balls, guests will come knocking with tins of gooey goodness, and it might just be too much for your household to reasonably eat. Don't forget that the ingredients in baking freeze well, and in six weeks you'll be longing for a good bit of home-baked sweetness. Keep a few plastic containers handy and layer baked goods on wax paper and they'll keep for 2 or 3 months. Never underestimate the ability of the office kitchen to consume extra yummy stuff, and find out if your neighborhood has a women's shelter or food bank that accepts home baking donations.

DRINK YOUR 8 GLASSES!
Drink water, drink water, drink water. Of course you'll be drinking lots of other fabulous concoctions but keeping your body hydrated is the first step in staying regular, keeping your energy up, maintaining glowing skin, and preventing hang-overs and over eatingall very important aspects of staying healthy over the holidays. Fill a nice pitcher with fresh water and a few slices of lemon or cucumber. Keep it on the counter with glasses so it's the easiest thing to grab.

FIBER IS YOUR FRIEND, TOO.
If you are a cook or baker you can make smart choices when it comes to recipes and menus. Substitute flavor for fat, and high-quality, high-fiber ingredients for empty calories. Sometimes you need the full fat whipped cream, but mouth-watering mashed potatoes can be made with chicken broth and very little butter, and brownies can be made with lots of good cocoa powder and a little less fat.

SNEAK IN SOME MOTION
Catch up with your high-school best friend while you walk around the park, offer to take the youngsters to a play center, or grab 10 minutes in the morning for pushups and tummy toning. It might not seem like much, but getting your heart pumping and your muscles flexing every day will keep your caloric burn rate higher, and will prevent that "partied out" feeling that comes after the parties and pals are gone.

BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF
Its easy to get too stressed about how much weight gain or health loss is happening while you're at your 20th holiday party, but don't forget that your waist wasn't built in a week, and it's your habits throughout the year that really make the difference. Sure, you want to feel great while you're party-hopping and hosting, but an extra brownie or buttery potatoes will not undo the gym visits and smart choices you made all year. Enjoy the fun!

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