The Christmas season can be the toughest time of year to keep your eating habits in check with all the food, parties, and sweets. Combine this with the stress of the holidays and the colder weather, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be quite a challenge. Let’s address some quick areas to keep you on track this holiday season.

Workplace Snacks/Sweets

The workplace can always be a place full of snacks and sweets but it is never worse than during the holiday season. Bowls of candy and baked goods seemingly overflow this time of year. Throwing out all of your coworkers’ goodies would most likely be frowned upon, so you will have to rely on your own preparation. I know how tough it can be to avoid free sweets at the workplace. First, avoid being hungry. That can sound simple but be hard to accomplish. If you find your stomach grumbling before or after your main meals of the day, then pack a healthier option to munch on in between meals. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, and sunflower seeds are all great snack ideas to get the job done.

Holiday Drinks

While sweets may be the most obvious threat to your dietary habits, keep an eye on those festive holiday drinks as well. It is common to see alcohol served at Christmas parties with your friends and family as well as at your company Christmas party. Too many drinks can not only lead to some embarrassing situations but can also pack a large amount of calories. Make sure to have water with drinks to cut down the calories and stay hydrated. Also, while the most festive of holiday drinks, eggnog, is part of Christmas tradition, it is not the best option for watching your weight. It is a dense, creamy, and high sugar drink that gives you roughly 250 calories per glass. I suggest keeping it to about half a glass. (In my opinion, eggnog seems to lose its pleasant taste the more you drink it anyway.)

Try not to let your healthy habits slip too much during the holidays this year. As I often say, make sure to enjoy time with friends and family. Indulging in a few sweets here and there is alright but don’t overdo it; you should be able to get back to your normal healthy habits soon after the holiday season passes. Make sure to have some fun over the holidays and then we can talk all about our New Year’s resolutions in a few weeks.

CHES, ACE Health Coach, AFPA Nutrition & Wellness Consultant