Before, During and After the Holidays

This wonderful time of year is known as a season of giving, receiving and eating! When you think of the holidays what is the first thing that comes to mind? For me it’s family, but second to family is food. My mother bakes an incredible ham, we have high calorie side dishes and plenty of desserts to choose from, not to mention a wide variety of flavored refreshments. How do we enjoy our holidays without gaining excess weight?

Plan ahead
Now is the time to think preventative. Plan to be more active. Adding 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine five times a week has tremendous health benefits. It’s also a great way to burn off extra calories and improve your mood! Your 30 minute exercise regimen may even result in weight loss before your holiday dinner.

Drink more water
Many of us confuse hunger for thirst. If you’re not consuming a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day you may be experiencing dehydration. One of the many side effects of dehydration is a sensation of hunger. Our bodies obtain fluid through foods like fruits and vegetables, aiming to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day will help you to help maintain proper hydration as well as a healthy body.

Portion Control
Enjoying the holiday without excess weight gain is attainable. One very important key to achieving this is by focusing on portion control. When serving your holiday dinner plate refer to ChooseMyPlate.gov for proper serving sizes. The hand and eye method is another effective way to balance your portions. A serving of protein is about the size of your fist, a serving of starch is about the size of one cupped hand, and a serving of vegetables is about the size of two cupped hands. If possible opt to infuse your water with fruits or vegetables in place of flavored drinks. The average slice of pie can be 500 calories or more, when it comes to dessert stick to one small serving to keep your caloric intake within a healthy range.

Support
Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating some healthier traditions this holiday season. Your hearts will thank you for it. Maintain good health by implementing these tips year around. For more support and encouragement join the City of Los Fresnos Community Health Outreach Program. All classes are free!

Resources: American Heart Association

For more information contact Los Fresnos City Hall at 956-233-5768 or Christine De La Rosa, Community Health Worker at 956-312-1406 or email at [email protected]