Healthy Living Through the Holidays
Over the next few weeks, my goal is to be particularly mindful of our day-to-day eating and meal planning. From Thanksgiving on, there is an onslaught of dinners, parties, and fun events like cookie exchanges and I love everything about them! However, it is easy to let one “cheat day” such as an amazing Thanksgiving meal turn into a cheat few weeks with all of the celebratory opportunities ahead.
I’ve been eating fairly simple meals this week – oatmeal with chia seeds has been my go-to breakfast. It is easy to portion out dry ingredients into a few containers and grab and go on busy mornings, and you can add water and microwave when you get to the office or other destination (I’m a late breakfast person). I like doing overnight oats with almond milk and berries when it is warm, or hot oats during the winter.
I’ve been making salads for lunches, especially my favorite variety – spinach, strawberries, chickpeas, and walnuts topped with balsamic vinegar or a light balsamic dressing. I usually pair this with a yogurt or cup of soup for my lunch.
I also started using Plant Nanny (iPhone, Android) again so I get reminders throughout the day on my phone to drink water. I almost always forget to drink water even though I know that’s one of the worst things I could to do myself! It is so easy to forget during the work/school day when you have a lot going on.
Last week wasn’t a good one for exercise – between family time, selling at a craft show, and working on three big final assignments to close out my semester, my week was packed! I was happy to make it back to the gym yesterday on my way home from work and put in time on the treadmill. I have some running goals for 2017 that I’d like to decide on and put in my journal, too. My current schedule is for six days a week, alternating running and lifting days (and if I can squeeze in a yoga/meditation session, even better!).
How are you staying healthy during the holidays? What meals are helping you stay on track?
Keeping up with healthy living throughout the holiday season can be tough. I agree that there is such an onslaught of temptations all around us. For me, candy and sweets are such a temptation and I managed to get through Halloween mostly unscathed. I didn’t do anything for Thanksgiving due to being ill. I’m not really nervous about the actual Christmas celebrations yet, but I see candies, sweets, and many other things themed for Christmas that try to “call” to me. Mostly I am avoiding them but they are still so tempting!
Chia seeds are my staple, I make smoothies with them because I don’t like the taste of protein powder! Love the idea of throwing it into oatmeal!
That salad looks so yummy! I stay on track through the holidays by making sure I’m on point with my nutrition and workouts whenever I can. When I indulge, I enjoy it and move back to my normal eating habits again :). I need some more yoga and meditation in my life! Especially during the holidays :/