How to Have a Healthy Holiday Season

There’s a lot to look forward to as the holidays approach: spending time with family, delicious holiday meals and fun winter activities. But this time of year can also pose challenges to your health. Whether your goals include healthy eating or avoiding the dreaded flu, you can improve your chances of staying healthy throughout the season by making a plan and sticking to some basic healthy habits.

Here are some of our favorite tips to keep you in your best shape as you enjoy this festive season.

Everything in Moderation

No matter what your diet is like the rest of the year, the holiday season will definitely put it to the test. Holiday parties, decadent meals and treats offered on every occasion will challenge your goals. Trying to avoid all temptation can lead to frustration and possibly giving up on your diet goals completely (then feeling guilty in the new year). Instead, experts recommend allowing yourself to indulge in holiday treats to a reasonable degree, while keeping your goals in mind when you can. At a party, stick to healthier dinner options if you want to enjoy a decadent holiday dessert. If you’re drinking alcohol, enjoy your favorite festive cocktail then switch to water to stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary calories. And make sure you focus on eating nutritious foods throughout the season to balance out any indulgences.

Keep Germs at Bay

The holidays are the last time you ever want to be sick–there’s so much to do, and you don’t want to miss out on any festivities. But it’s a time of year when people do get sick more often. Between stress, travel, lowered immunity and dryer air, many diseases peak in the winter months. Fortunately, there are a few precautions that might keep you from getting sick. Wash your hands frequently, eat immunity-boosting foods, consider taking vitamin supplements (after talking to your doctor) and use a humidifier in your home to keep the air more moist. If you do feel yourself getting sick, take the time to rest and recover rather than trying to push through it.

Enjoy the Season, Don’t Stress

As fun as the holidays can be, it’s easy to get overly stressed and anxious about making travel plans or picking the perfect gifts. Try to keep things in perspective, appreciate making holiday memories with family and friends and consider calming activities like yoga and meditation to counteract the hectic nature of the holiday season.