©2018 Independent Health Association, Inc. IH26529 Independent Health Wellness Tip — December 2018 Many people have holiday traditions, both big and small. Unfortunately, not all traditions help create a healthy holiday for you and your family. From baking a plethora of cookies and pies to the stress of shopping for gifts, certain activities can adversely affect your health. Here are a few simple ways you and your family can create new holiday traditions that are good for the heart, mind and body: • Plan an outdoor activity. Don’t let the colder temperatures keep you inside. Instead get outdoors and have some fun. Consider hosting a skating or sledding party. It’s a great way to get active and connect with family and friends during the holiday season. In addition, go for a nighttime walk and check out the beautiful light displays. Try a different area each time you go out. You might find some inspiration to try at your own house. Plus, walking is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. • Get moving by decorating. Whether you’re decorating indoors or outside, you can burn up to 250 calories every hour while “decking the halls.” If kids are involved, be sure to give them safe tasks on the ground while you tackle the ladder. Add some holiday music to help amp up the energy and turn decorating into something the whole family looks forward to. • Make holiday meals healthier. Keep traditional foods on the menu but replace ingredients with low-fat or fat-free counterparts. This is a great way to reduce the fat and calorie content of your meal without feeling deprived. For example, use reduced-fat instead of regular sour cream in your veggie dip or pureed pumpkin or applesauce in your baked goods instead of butter. • Put your brain to work. There may be days that just aren’t ideal for outdoor activities. Instead of catching up on your favorite shows, turn off your TV and get creative by making a holiday wreath for the front door or a gift for someone special. • Help others. Avoid getting bogged down in the commercialism of the holidays by giving back to your community. Volunteer at a community shelter or food pantry. Studies have shown that volunteering makes people feel healthier and helps lower stress. Go through your house to find items you don’t use anymore and bring them to a local donation center. Even a simple gesture like shoveling a neighbor’s driveway is a great way to lend a helping hand while burning some calories at the same time. Here’s wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season! Create some new healthy holiday traditions this year
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©2018 Independent Health Association, Inc. IH26529
Independent Health Wellness Tip — December 2018
Many people have holiday traditions, both big and small. Unfortunately, not alltraditions help create a healthy holiday for you and your family. From baking aplethora of cookies and pies to the stress of shopping for gifts, certain activitiescan adversely affect your health.
Here are a few simple ways you and your family can create new holidaytraditions that are good for the heart, mind and body:
• Plan an outdoor activity. Don’t let the colder temperatures keep you inside.Instead get outdoors and have some fun. Consider hosting a skating orsledding party. It’s a great way to get active and connect with family andfriends during the holiday season. In addition, go for a nighttime walk andcheck out the beautiful light displays. Try a different area each time you goout. You might find some inspiration to try at your own house. Plus, walkingis a great way to unwind at the end of the day.
• Get moving by decorating. Whether you’re decorating indoors or outside,you can burn up to 250 calories every hour while “decking the halls.” If kidsare involved, be sure to give them safe tasks on the ground while you tacklethe ladder. Add some holiday music to help amp up the energy and turndecorating into something the whole family looks forward to.
• Make holiday meals healthier. Keep traditional foods on the menu butreplace ingredients with low-fat or fat-free counterparts. This is a great wayto reduce the fat and calorie content of your meal without feeling deprived.For example, use reduced-fat instead of regular sour cream in your veggie dipor pureed pumpkin or applesauce in your baked goods instead of butter.
• Put your brain to work. There may be days that just aren’t ideal for outdooractivities. Instead of catching up on your favorite shows, turn off your TV andget creative by making a holiday wreath for the front door or a gift forsomeone special.
• Help others. Avoid getting bogged down in the commercialism of theholidays by giving back to your community. Volunteer at a community shelteror food pantry. Studies have shown that volunteering makes people feelhealthier and helps lower stress. Go through your house to find items youdon’t use anymore and bring them to a local donation center. Even a simplegesture like shoveling a neighbor’s driveway is a great way to lend a helpinghand while burning some calories at the same time.
Here’s wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!
Create some new healthyholiday traditions this year
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