As we quickly approach the last quarter of the year, it's time to try to eat a little healthier and to be a little more active before we hit the holidays. Last year, I ate healthier going into the holidays, and honestly it was my saving grace. I only gained 3 or 4 lbs in comparison to the 15 lbs I typically gain.
1) Food Clean Out:
The first place to start is with a fridge, freezer, and pantry clean out. Get rid of anything that's expired and give away things that are unhealthy.
2) Healthier Alcohol Options:
Next, eliminate mixed drinks and hard liquor by switching to hard seltzers, wine, and bubbles (champagne). If you must stick to beer switch from a heavy beer to a low calorie light beer same thing goes for mixed drinks--use low calorie and low sugar mixers over juices.
3) Eat Clean at Home:
If you look at this list, and only choose one switch to make in your daily life (baby steps). This is where to start!! Mainly because bodies are built in the kitchen. Eat clean at home, so you can treat yourself when you leave the house. In other words, don't eat any processed foods, candy, sweets, fried foods, or fattening foods at home. Also, stick to water or low calorie/low sugar drinks at home too. Find healthier versions of foods you like that are better for you that are all natural, low sugar, plant based, etc. Everything we eat that's considered junk food pretty much has a healthy alternative to it these days. A good place to look for healthy alternatives is Thrive Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, an organic/health food section of a supermarket, and small boutique grocery stores/markets.
4) Baked Goods:
If you're a big holiday baker, look into healthier ingredient alternatives. Some recommended ones are:
Avocado for Butter
Greek Yogurt for Cream
Almond Flour for Regular Flour
Applesauce for Sugar
Flaxseed for Eggs
Bananas for Oil
5) Exercising 3 Times a Week:
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season makes it hard to stick to a workout routine. Committing to workout 3 days a week by taking an exercise class, hiring a personal trainer, lifting weights, or doing some sort of cardio should do the trick. Setting an alarm or adding it to a calendar makes it easier to follow through with.
We hope these tips help going into the holiday season!
Cameron Greene
Author