Christmas cookies, pumpkin pie, and tempting eggnog; just three things that many people enjoy about the Christmas season. With so many tasty treats to choose from, it can be difficult to stay healthy during the Christmas season. Darci McMurray, clinical nutrition service manager and dietician at Bryan Medical Center, talked to KLIN News about ways to maintain your physical health during the most wonderful time of the year.
1 – Have Breakfast
“Start the morning off right with a great breakfast,” says McMurray. “Whether it’s some whole-grain, some fruits, or some type of a lean protein at breakfast. It’s great to start off your morning that way.”
2 – Eat Fruits and Veggies
“When you’re more likely to indulge in those higher-fat or more of those candy-type items that are sitting around offices these days, you’ll feel a little better knowing that you’ve taken in more fruits and vegetables over the day.”
3 – Avoid Skipping Meals
“If you skip your meal thinking, ‘I can save all my nutrition and calories for later,’ it doesn’t quite work that way! What happens is that we actually tend to overeat later if we skip meals.”
4 – Watch Your Portions
“Size does matter. Even just grabbing a smaller plate and pulling back on portion sizes really makes a big difference.”
5 – Drink in Moderation
“Trickle in some water in between some of those festive drinks. If you’re going to move your socializing away from the buffet tables or drink table, sometimes that can minimize your unconscious nibbling or the desire for, ‘oh, just one more drink.’
6 – Exercise
“If you think about a drink or a couple of those cookies adding, y’know, 150, 200, 300 calories, going on a 20-to-30-minute walk can erase some of that.”
For tips on maintaining good mental health this Christmas, see what Bryan Medical’s Dr. Dave Miers told KLIN News.