Healthy Holiday Choices Guide

During the holidays, trying to eat healthy can be challenging. Even the most disciplined health enthusiasts find it difficult with many holiday gatherings and additional travel. The flurry of activity makes it easy to fall into a habit of mindless eating. But who wants to feel like they need to be carried out on a sleigh after the holidays?

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“The holiday season only comes around once a year so people should enjoy the foods that come along with it, however moderation is key,” says Joseph Callahan, Fitness Account Director of Cooper Wellness Strategies. “There are some simple ways to enjoy the holidays without packing on the pounds.”

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While most people leave nutrition to the new year, it’s important to keep your lifestyle in balance during the holiday season, and not tilt to one eating extreme or the other. With the amount of delicious options on the table, it’s nice to have a few principles of nutrition to keep in mind and keep you from overeating. To help, LiveWell program partner, Cooper Wellness Strategies, shares a few additional tips for thinking about nutrition during the holiday season.

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Check Off Wish Lists and Workouts

From wish lists to shopping schedules, we tend to mark down everything we need to do in order to have a happier holiday. You should treat your workouts, activities, and meal plans the same way. Simply schedule your workouts into your daily holiday plan or use meal tracker apps to see what you’re eating and drinking. 

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Eat a Little Before the Feast

Holiday gatherings typically have foods of all flavors, shapes, sizes, and helpings lining every counter. One way to keep yourself from overindulging is to make sure to have a snack before the party. That’s right, avoid an empty stomach before celebrating and make sure to drink plenty of water. It’s a handy way to keep from biting off more cocktails and food than you can chew.

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Add Some Hustle and Bustle‍

With the amount of extra eating that takes place during the holidays, you can incorporate a little extra movement to counter those cookies, casseroles, and cocktails. For example, Cooper Wellness Strategies suggests simple actions like parking at the back of the mall lot to fit in some extra walking steps. Or, you can take stairs instead of elevators or escalators while shopping. 

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Simply put, wellness is a way of life. And as we work to better Louisiana one business and one worker at a time, it’s important to provide the tools that help build a healthier workforce for our home state. Beyond healthy holiday eating, wellness is critical to performing well and performing safely. Through LiveWell, we hope to be able to provide lifestyle tips and educational resources that can grow wellness long after the holidays are over.