It’s Friday, so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five. It’s easy for healthy eating habits to go out the window over the holidays. I saw a great comment on a social media post about holiday eating. You have the opportunity to eat roughly 100 meals between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Even if you have 10 or 15 holiday parties, you have over 80 opportunities for healthy eating. Think about it! It’s true.
Here are some of my favorite “hacks” for keeping up healthy eating habits over the holidays:
Always have healthy foods on hand. When you’re busy during the holiday season, it’s easy to run out of healthy groceries. I like to have healthy frozen foods like Daily Harvest on hand. They make smoothies, soups, harvest bowls and more. [Get $25 off your first order or gift card with this link or code ERICAFINDS.] I’ve also stocked up on healthy pantry staples like Safe Catch tuna pouches and new Safe Harvest soups, Veggiecraft Farms Pasta (made with cauliflower flour, lentil and pea flour) and Otamot tomato sauce with extra veggies.
Also, consider using Instacart or Amazon Fresh to get healthy food delivered. It may cost a bit more, but if you can swing it, it’s less expensive than eating out (for the most part).
Try meal kits or healthy meal delivery. I recently had the opportunity to try Sunbasket. They ship fresh, prepped ingredients with quick, delicious recipes based on your selections. They offer options for a variety of diets including gluten free, vegan and Paleo. For a limited time, get $35 off plus two free gifts here. A gift certificate for meal kits or prepared meals like Freshly or Factor 75 is a great holiday gift, too!
Bring healthy options or swaps to holiday events. If you’re concerned about what’s being served at a holiday meal or party, bring a healthy/healthier dish that you enjoy. You know that you’ll have a healthy option that you like and other folks will be happy to have a healthy option, too.
Make some healthy “mocktails” or make sure to have sparkling water in rotation. These days I try to limit the number or drinks/glasses of wine I have in one evening. One way to do this is to have “mocktails” (fresh mixers without the booze), sparkling water with fruit or other fun non-alcoholic beverages. My friends from Tama Tea sent me their sparkling green tea. It comes in three delicious flavors and is a delicious zero calorie natural beverage. (It’s great with a splash of vodka, too ;))
Enjoy treats in moderation – and only eat the whole thing if it’s delicious! I’m a big believer in “everything in moderation.” Treats and sweets definitely have a place in my life – especially around the holiday. One change I’ve made is that I take a bite or two of desserts and rich foods. If they are super delicious, I may have a bit more. If not, I move on. Another great tip, share desserts and treats with a friend or loved one.
What are your favorite ways to keep on track with healthy eating over the holidays?
Have a great weekend!
Please note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon and Daily Harvest. If you use these links, I’ll receive a small commission.