It’s time for another holiday. These special days only come around once a year, and usually each day involves a big meal. This Sunday is Easter, and some of you will be spending the weekend with family. I have gotten several questions asking me how to stay healthy while visiting family for the holiday’s. It can be a tough thing to do, but there are many things you can do to keep up a healthy lifestyle during the festive times of year.
Easter is a holiday that involves a lot of sweets. Between the Easter egg hunts with candy stuffed plastic eggs and the mounds of chocolate delivered by the “Easter Bunny,” it can be hard to say no to all of these temptations. And I am not telling you to say no to all of them because when you deny yourself of that craving, you’re more likely to binge on that item later. Do not deprive yourself this holiday; give in to some of those cravings. However, you need to be smart about what you are eating. That being said, here are some helpful tips to get your through Easter weekend.
- Keep a food journal… If you are worried about eating too much, keep a food journal to hold yourself accountable. If you feel badly about how you eat one day, process it and fix things the next day. People who keep a food journal are more likely to consume less each day they record their meals.
- Track your sugar intake… Sugar is what will get you into trouble this holiday. Did you know that one serving of Jelly Belly’s has 28 grams of sugar? That is more than recommended daily intake for women. Get a food tracking app like myfitnesspal to help you track your sugar intake or go old school by keeping track on a pad of paper.
- Don’t buy in bulk… Trust me on this one. Once the holiday is over, you do not want all of those sweets sitting around. Like I’ve said before, holiday’s only come around once a year so let yourself indulge on the day of but cut it off the next day. You don’t want to fall into the hole of Easter candy because that can be hard to dig yourself out of.
- Opt for the dark chocolate candies… Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants!
- Bake clean with your family… I know holiday’s with my family normally include baked goods. Breads, cookies, pies, you name it and it has probably been made during some holiday. If you know that going home to visit your parents means inevitably having all these baked goods around, take control of the situation. Ask your family to hold off on the grocery shopping until you arrive and look up some healthy cookie recipes. Choose alternative flours and sugars at the store to make those baked goods healthier. That way you won’t feel so guilty about indulging.
- Save the chocolate for dessert… Don’t eat the sweets on an empty stomach because that will cause a spike in your blood sugar. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you can have dessert for breakfast. You’re also likely consume less sweets after eating a high fiber and protein meal.
- Post-meal activities… After eating (and letting your food digest) invite the family for a game of football or capture the flag. Instantly start burning off those calories!