The festive season is synonymous with rich foods, binge eating, excessive drinking and being a little extra lazy. These can take their toll on your body. If you’re concerned about how these behaviours will affect your family’s health, there are small hacks to help you stay healthy while still having a merry good time.
Festive Season Health Tips
- Just add water. Set water out at every meal. Jugs of water with fruit look festive! Drink water when you wake up and before you go to bed. This will keep you stay hydrated in the heat of summer and minimise the side effects of excessive wine consumption. It also means that you don’t overeat. Thirst is often confused with feelings of hunger. Staying hydrated means less binge eating.
- Include salads and fruit with every meal. Sometimes eating healthier is simply about having the right options right in front of you. And we’re not saying don’t enjoy that roast or that pudding. Make sure to add salad to your plate; fill your dessert bowl with strawberries and not just ice cream; have a plate of fresh crudites with your picnics.
- Have more vegetarian options. Having a festive season braai? Add more vegetarian options to the menu, like mushroom skewers and vegetable sosaties or corn. Ratatouille is a great side dish and works well as a leftover. Make veggie-packed smoothies in the mornings for everyone. Challenge the kids to make vegetarian dishes, big salads or even buddha bowls for the family. Plan your meals so that you have three times as many vegetable side dishes as you have protein dishes.
- Take a walk. Walking helps with indigestion, which is common to experience this time of year with all the indulgent meals served up. Walking also eases stress and burns calories.
Read more: Easy Ways to Eat More Vegetables Plus Tasty Veggie Recipes.