4 Healthy Holiday Traditions To Try This Year

The holidays come with lots of stressors for many of us...shopping for gifts, hosting dinners, overindulging and feeling regret...the list goes on. And that stress can negatively affect our health and wellness. It can even lead to symptoms. So to combat that, I’m sharing a few of my favorite healthy holiday traditions.

Bake healthier treats

You’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to make a decadent treat healthier. Brownies with black beans, ice cream made entirely of bananas, applesauce in lieu of sugar...I could keep going! There are many options, and most of the time you’ll never taste a difference. This raw apple pieis a favorite in the office.

Spend some time outdoors

Dropping temperatures encourage a sedentary lifestyle naturally. And that’s a sure fire way to promote weight gain, especially combined with all of those holiday treats staring at you. Play in the snow with your kids, go for a hike, or try your hand at a winter sport like skiing or snowboarding.

Enjoy a leisurely dinner

No reason to rush a festive holiday dinner with the family. Try going around the table and saying what you’re thankful for. You’ll enjoy some quality time, and benefit from eating at a slower pace while you’re at it. When we eat quickly, our brain doesn’t have a chance to register that it’s full fast enough, which results in overeating. So by taking your time, it’s likely you’ll eat less because your brain and stomach will be on the same page.

Give back

Consider giving some of your time to others. Serve at a food pantry, visit a nursing home, or donate to a women’s shelter. Those happy hormones called endorphins are likely to come out as a result, so everyone wins.