Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
As we approach the festive season, it's essential to maintain a balanced and mindful approach to our diet and lifestyle. In the midst of holiday feasts and celebrations, these tips will help you make informed choices and ensure your well-being during this joyful time. From portion control to incorporating self-care routines, Warlick Family YMCA Dietitian Nina Cassetta offers valuable insights for keeping your health on track throughout the holidays. Discover expert advice for a healthier, happier holiday season.
Prioritize Portion Control:
Enjoy holiday feasts in moderation by using smaller plates and mindful eating to avoid overindulgence.
Stay Active:
Maintain your exercise routine or engage in fun, festive activities like winter walks or dancing to burn off those extra holiday calories. Mild to moderate exercise has a considerable impact on our blood sugar levels, as movement increases our insulin sensitivity. After your food has been digested for a bit, consider strolling around your neighborhood or a local park to bring down your glucose levels.
Balance Your Plate:
Fill your plate with a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to create balanced meals.
Bump Up Fiber Intake:
Fiber is a nondigestible carbohydrate that not only helps with blood sugar control but also helps maintain satiety levels and add bulk to our stool, keeping our GI system happy. Win-win! Aim for 25-35g a day.
Pair Carbohydrates:
Pair carbohydrates with lean protein and/or healthy fat. Protein and fat foods take longer to digest and will prevent a blood sugar spike. Consider adding peanut butter to your bagel or guac with your chips to have more balanced blood sugar.
Practice Self-Care:
Make time for self-care routines, like meditation or relaxation exercises, to manage holiday stress and maintain your well-being. Reducing our overall stress, engaging in self-care activities, and ensuring we get an average of 7-9 hours of sleep each night have a positive impact on blood sugar control.
Control Your Blood Glucose:
Try these Dietitian Approved Tips For Blood Sugar Control
Include Carbohydrates Consistently:
Make sure to include a complex carbohydrate(whole grains, fruits/veggies, starchy veggies) at every meal to provide your body with a steady supply of its preferred fuel source.
Do Not Skip Meals:
Eating regularly throughout the day helps to prevent spikes or dips in our blood sugar levels. We recommended eating something every 3-4 hours.
Monitor Blood Sugar Levels:
Whether you prefer pricking your finger or monitoring your sugars through a CGM, this is the best way to stay on track of your glucose levels throughout the day. We recommend checking in the morning, before meals, within 2 hours after meals, and before you go to sleep at night.
Healthy Holiday Recipies
Try these balanced recipies this season:
Cranberry Rosemary One Pan Chicken Recipe
Holiday Honeycrisp Salad Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Coconut Macaroons
NINA CASSETTA, RD
Warlick Family YMCA Dietitian
Nutrition Healthworks