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3 Steps to Holiday clean eating

It’s almost time for those New Year resolutions so why am I talking about changing our eating habits during the first week of December? Why not wait until after the holiday free-for-all with foods that usually come out once a year?

Well, simply because people gain an average of 6lbs during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New years. For every 1 lb of weight, your knees take on 4lbs of pressure. Cholesterol goes up. Blood pressure goes up-partly due to holiday stress but also eating habits gone by the side of the road. Bad moods increase. Depression increases for many. Inactivity makes us cranky. The list goes on.

I’m not suggesting that you spend the entire holiday eating carrots. I am suggesting that you prioritize your celebrations and really take notice of your eating habits during “normal” days. It’s so easy to just let all the good habits get buried under the promise to do better after the first of the year. But you CAN enjoy the holiday celebrations and still maintain good clean eating.

  • Water. First and foremost, drink water. Doing this simple step will help flush out the sodium, nitrates, alcohol, fats, and sugar from the treats. It will keep your skin hydrated in the winter air, keep your muscles and joints happy, and just make you feel better. Drink up!!
  • Real food. If you already eat a pretty clean diet, try to stick with it as much as possible ESPECIALLY on days before a big dinner or party. Call it edible insurance 😉  If you’re new to eating healthy, start small with exchanging chips for nuts, fruit juice for real fruit, sugar yogurt with plain yogurt and fruit. Small changes add up.
  • Exercise. You can’t get away from it. If all you can do is a brisk walk, do it! If you have time for a full workout, do it!

These are three small things you can do to help combat the dreaded holiday gain. Think about how much better you will feel on Jan. 1 if you really pay attention NOW to what you’re eating and drinking.

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