With their debauchery of food and alcohol, the holidays seem like the perfect occasion to indulge, but that doesn’t mean your physical and mental health have to suffer.
Certified health coach Carey Peters and registered dietitian Molly Rieger have both shared their top tips to spend a healthy holiday season without depriving yourself of your favorite treats.
From something as simple as going outdoors to adding one ingredient to your meals, there are alternatives to hardcore dieting and many of them are easy to follow, which is why anti-diets are the best diets.
It’s time! Certified health coach Carey Peters and registered dietitian Molly Rieger have both shared their top tips to spend a healthy holiday season (stock picture)
Peters, who co-founded the Health Coach Institute, an online learning platform, shared anti-diet tips with The Thirty, while Rieger, who practices in Manhattan, shared with FEMAIL her wellness tricks to stay healthy without adhering to strict rules.
Eat healthy fats
Healthy fats might seem like an oxymoron, but they are actually good for you. Some of the most nutritious fats include avocado, nuts, seeds and salmon. Rieger insists that every meal should contain a source of healthy fats, as well as fiber and lean protein.
This simple habit can be one of the keys to a simple, healthy lifestyle, which Peters says can benefit not just us, but also Planet Earth.
‘Instead of looking for a magic pill to make us healthy, 2018 should be the year that we shift our cultural mindset to a healthier lifestyle—a lifestyle that is not only fun and easy, but one that also works for our bodies and the planet,’ she said.
Stop dieting
Denying yourself food and nutrients is only going to backfire, Peters shared.
‘If you restrict yourself during the day or days leading up to the holiday feast, then when the time comes to eat, your body will crave more than it needs because it feels deprived,’ she said.
Instead of restriction, she recommended eating mindfully and trying small bites of everything at first, before coming back for larger helping of your favorite dishes.
‘Be kind to yourself and your body,’ Rieger added. ‘Cleansing from a negative or self hating place never leads to lasting results.’
Pragmatic: Denying yourself food and nutrients is only going to backfire, Peters shared. Instead, she recommended eating mindfully (stock picture)
Spend time outside
Cold weather can make it tempting to stay indoors, but simply going outside and breathing in some fresh air can do wonders for your body.
‘Even just a 30-minute walk after a large meal can stimulate your digestion,’ Peters said.
‘Spending as much time as you can during the day outside will keep you alert and feeling alive and prevent that too-full and lethargic post-dinner feeling.’
Drink bulletproof coffee
Instead of sipping on a regular cup of java, try bulletproof coffee as a different option.
This trendy beverage, which many credit with helping sustain their energy levels, is made by adding healthy fats such as grass-fed butter, ghee, and oil, to a cup of black coffee.
Some people find that it helps release the caffeine slowly to create bursts of energy throughout the day.
If you don’t drink coffee, Peters gave an alternative and suggested switching it out for a teaspoon of turmeric, a spice that acts as a digestive aid, before blending it with butter in tea or a cup of hot water.
Don’t forget protein
Every meal should include protein, according to both Rieger and Peters.
‘If you’re a meat eater wanting to eat well over the holidays, there’s no need to forgo the turkey that you craved all year long,’ Peters said.
‘Take a portion of turkey for your protein, which will help keep you satiated and keep blood sugars stable, but make sure to save room for other dishes so that your meal will be balanced with protein, veggies, and carbs.’