Regardless of how you celebrate the holiday season, this time of year can be difficult to maintain your health.  Whether you have lavish social engagements, increased stress around family, finances, schedule, or diet, we all experience significant strains on the willpower needed to keep ourselves from overindulging.  Here are some tips to help you get through the holidays:

• Maintain a sleep schedule and nightly routine as closely as possible.
• Prep home-prepared meals from whole food ingredients as often as possible. Having something ready in the freezer helps make good choices easy when schedules get full.
• Plan meals and snacks to have with you when you’re away from home or traveling.
• Don’t shop hungry.
• Exercise, even briefly. Keeping this element of the routine as schedules get busy will help to remediate stress and keep you from feeling sluggish.
• Get outside when you can.  Fresh air and sunshine are important during colder months when we spend more time inside.
• When at social engagements
  • Eat first, then drink your cocktail. We eat more and make more compromised choices after we’ve been drinking.
  • Put buffet food on a plate; when you’re finished throw the plate away and walk away from the food.
• Indulge in moderation those treats that are special to you and can be managed within your health goals.
• Enjoy the moments that matter most.

Simple Holiday Substitutions

• Try hot green or herbal spiced tea instead of that holiday latte loaded with sugar.
• Try drinking sparkling water out of a fancy glass and add a garnish. It’ll look and feel fancy.

• Make fresh and fermented veggies the star of your antipasto platter in place of cheese and meats.

• Opt for dark chocolate as a dessert replacement. Look for 80% cacao or higher and find a fair trade, organic brand.