It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the season to be jolly! It’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly!
Let’s look at some Christmas songs and carols for inspirations to stay healthy!
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| Source: hellowonderful.co |
Dashing through the snow
Be active throughout the holidays. Spend 30 minutes to an hour a day brisk walking, running, swimming, skiing, or playing your favourite sport such as squash, tennis or football. Enjoy the energy boost you experience with the release of happy hormones while exercising.
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
Enjoy the delicacies of Christmas in the right portion size! Don’t let Christmas be your cheat meal – instead, let it be your treat meal where you savour and relish every bite of your favourite foods. Rather than binge eating, choose smart portion sizing! Make a plan, choose the foods you want to enjoy and skip all the foods that are not a must have.
You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout!
Weigh yourself every day to keep a check on your weight. It helps you be mindful of your foods and activities, preventing you from witnessing a sudden post-holiday weight gain in the new year.
Avoid binge drinking. Not only is alcohol a source of empty calories, it also makes you dehydrated. A dehydrated body will very often mistake thirst for hunger and crave for salty snacks, which are calorie dense and lead to an increase in holiday weight.
He knows if you have been bad or good! So be good for goodness sakes!
Choose smaller plates when eating calorie dense snacks and foods. Smaller plates give you a feeling of satiety with smaller portions. This helps keep your waistline intact.
Chew each morsel of food 32 times. Eating food slowly and chewing it thoroughly improves digestion, keeps you feeling satiated and prevents flatulence.
Then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say: “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Hydrate yourself – a well hydrated skin is naturally bright, soft and supple. Drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water daily. In addition, choose 2 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables every day for a glowing skin. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre.
O’er the fields we go, Laughing all the way
As you raise a toast to togetherness and joy this festive season, rethink your drink. Choose plain water or plain soda as opposed to carbonated sweetened beverages. Be mindful of the number of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks; and especially, what you choose to nibble along with your drinks.
Rethink your snacks – choose less bread and more brussel sprouts; less cake and more vegetable sticks with a healthy dip. Choose baking, steaming and grilling, over shallow frying or deep frying your snacks and main meals.
Instead of focusing on food, laugh merrily with friends and family, spend quality time and create memories together. Avoid lingering around the buffet table – before you know it you would have mindlessly gulped down many unwanted calories.
Learn the art of being merry and enjoy your festivities with mindful eating! Reach out to our team of doctors and health coaches at MyDoc to help you achieve your health goals this festive season without feeling deprived.
Always care for you,
Sheetal Somaiya,
Sheetal.somaiya@my-doc.com
MyDoc dietician
