Staying healthy is a year-round commitment, but it is especially tough during the holiday season. Not only are there temptations around every corner – cookies, pies, cakes, candies… the lack of sleep, a regular schedule and time to prepare healthy meals is a recipe for disaster. (Especially with a sweet tooth like mine!)
So during the holidays, we have to work especially hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and our family. Before the holiday madness begins, take a moment to review a few simple things you can do to keep your family healthy during the holidays:
- Drink water. And then drink more water. Skip the sodas and eggnog when you can and fill up on water. Save the sugar indulgences for desert.
- Eat before you go. If you arrive at that holiday party starving, you are more likely to fill up on whatever is in front of you. Choosing to eat something healthy before you go will give you control over something nutritious and you will have less room to indulge. (One idea, grab an apple.)
- Walk it off. After a big meal, suggest a walk around the neighborhood to burn off some of that energy. Get the kids into the action by making it a nature walk (if during the day) or a chance to look at Christmas lights (if at night).
- Stock up on the good stuff. If you know you will be eating less-than-stellar options at parties and family’s house, stock your pantry with nutritious items for the other meals.
- Two words – crock pot. No time to cook, ask for an early Christmas present and get yourself a crock pot. With a crock pot, you can chop and dice the night before, then dump it all in to cook all day long. When you return from a day of shopping or merry making a nice, healthy, hot meal will be waiting for you. (Even I can cook with a crock pot!)
Those are just a few ideas to keep holiday indulgences from getting to your hips.
This holiday season, Parents.com and Aetna have teamed up to encourage parents and families to recommit to their health and learn more about their health. Today, many parents want to take health matters into their own hands and be able to make more informed decisions about health care and living healthier for the sake of their children. Furthermore, they’re looking for ways to live healthier to help them drive down costs of medical expenses so they have money to use on more fun recreational activities with their kids.
To help encourage you to Live Smart, so you are invited to share your moments of struggles and successes in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for a chance to win $300 from Parents.com and Aetna.
Aetna also offers the following tips to help you keep moving:
- Gym membership too expensive? Check out these low/no cost options to keeping you moving
- No time to workout? Check out these tips to fit exercise into a busy schedule
- Overwhelmed by what to do? Learn good fitness basics and terminology
Now for the giveaway!!!
Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a $100 Visa Gift Card, Williams-Sonoma cookbook, Pedometer and an assortment of Yogi Tea (more than $125 value!)
To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.
MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)
Disclosure – I was provided a promotional product for sharing my healthy tips and the prize is being provided to the winner, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Suzy Meyer says
Great post and smart tips!
Margaret Smith says
I try to drink plenty of water, especially before going out to parties.
Ashley H. says
My tip is to eat in moderation.
Katy S says
My tip is to double up on the vegetable that is offered to fill me up, then I won’t eat quite as much dessert.At least that’s the plan.
Schmidty says
My tip is all things in moderation ….food, alcohol, shopping, time with guests, exercise.
Meredith says
This is an awesome giveaway!
Catalina says
Definitely trying to go to the gym at least 3 times a week …Staying active
EMMA L HORTON says
DON’T BRING JUNK FOOD INTO THE HOUSE
Cathy Truman says
I eat alot of fresh veggies and fruit. I take my vitamins
every day and drink lots of water. I take a walk every
day with my dog KC. It is good for both of us.
Susan says
Drink water, water, water. Flushes out your system and fills you up before overeating.
Katherine P says
I try to eat alot of fruits and veggies and have an apple before going out to a party~
alycep says
Everything in balance-conserve energy, money, calories and time for the really important things
Patty Boutin says
Drink lots of water and plenty of rest.
Donna B. says
I don’t use the holidays as an excuse to overeat – I try to stick to my diet as much as possible, but allow myself to indulge a bit in my holiday favorites 🙂
Joanne Schultz says
Drinking plenty of water and make sure to get enough sleep each night will help you stay healthy during the holidays and any time!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jamie says
Stick to your exercise routine as best you can!
Alison says
I give away the left overs so there isn’t as much to snack on later.
Alison says
I give away the left overs.
Shannon Baas says
drin plenty of water.
Aura says
I limit myself to one sweet a day plus I try to run every morning with the baby so at least I get some excersize
Melinda Mendy Dinsmore says
I use Purell and wipes on shopping carts.
penny hyde says
keep watching every bite i eat and make myself accountale!
Jessie C. says
My tip for staying healthy during the holiday season is portion control and don’t skip on your exercise schedule.
Elena says
Eat in moderation and don’t forget to take vitamins daily
Geoff K says
I try to find an easy indoor activity or exercise to do (like the treadmill or exercise bike) and sneak in as much extra workout time as I can to help fend off the pounds. I also try to drink as much water as I can before hitting the dinner table or cookie jar so I have a pretty full stomach before indulging!
Tina M says
I eat 3-5 different veggies and fruits every day
Stephanie V. says
walk, wash hands, and don’t touch my face
Sheila K. says
I try to walk at least 10,000 steps each day and eat plenty of fruits and veggies!
Janice Whitaker says
Moderation!
[email protected]
Donna L says
I drink a lot of water and I get plenty of sleep.
Cheryl Van says
I have to stay away from SUGAR. Drink water, water, water.
Cheryl Van says
Love your blog. great giveaways.
McKim says
Learn to say no. You can’t do everything, and doing too much only gets you worn down.
Kristy Thiel says
Definitely drinking LOTS of water! thanks for hosting!
Amanda Sakovitz says
i try walking as much as possible and staying hydrated.
Kristie Wright says
I am watching what I eat and try to stay away from the dessert table. I also keep up with my exercise routing.
Lynda Del says
My best tip is to pace yourself in terms of food consumption to prevent a holiday feast coma.
Pat B says
I eat an apple before going to any holiday party to avoid overeating.
Jennifer Rote says
My best tip is to relax. Don’t let the stress get to you.
Suzanne K says
I try to make sure I’m getting enough sleep and have lemonade (vitamin C) every day from my lemon tree
Judith VanAlphen says
Same as yr round, Eat healthy, plenty of sleep, exercise and drink water
Cindy Loo says
I bought a Soda Stream, and now me and my fiance are drinking water (well, carbonated water, but without any flavorings or sweeteners!) all day long!
Mary Casper says
lots of water and walking whenever I an
bill elliott says
try to eat meals that are portioned and not too much
Henrietta says
To stay healthy during the holidays I make sure that our family takes their daily vitamin. We also take Airborne when we’ve been out shopping in crowded stores or at family gatherings!
Mami2jcn says
My tip is to get a flu shot and take vitamins.
courtney b says
drink lots of water and stay away from sugar and whipped cream drinks!
Anash says
Green smoothies all around!
Thanks for this splendid giveaway
allison gilmor says
drink water
Crissi says
The best tip for staying healthy is moderation! Don’t skip all the treats and good foods, just eat them in smaller portions 🙂
Katharine Davis says
My tip is to exercise to help keep the weight from creeping up. Enjoy a few treats but work it off
Lauren Little says
Exercise and wash hands…a lot!
Leah Love Orsbon says
My tip for staying healthy during the holidays is to always make sure I make time for the gym. I have a 24-hour gym and I find a way to work it in every day!
Jana says
I try and go for walks after each meal to get a little extra exercise in. If the weather is nice, I’ll also try to walk to the grocery store and back instead of drive.
Donna says
One good tip is to monitor the amount of alcohol you have, too, as drinks are often caloric. Drinking water (like you said) or limiting yourself to one glass of sparkling wine instead of beer or punch or liquor with mixers is a good way to keep the calories down.
Christian Nunez says
Eat Healthy foods. To avoid temptations, keep the pantry clear of too many junk food.
Trista says
stay away from the gluten! lol
elizabeth p says
I keep my water bottle with me at all times.
Scott Martin says
It is important that you continue to drink water.
sheila musselman askins says
taking lots of vitamin D and C and getting my girls their flu shot!
amy pugmire says
I buy less sweets and sugar so i am less tempted to eat it 🙂
Kayte CookWatts says
I try to bring veggies & hummus dip when I am invited over, so there is something healthy to snack on.
Melissa Comstock says
Portion control…I keep them small and drink a ton of water.
amy v says
tip- move! it’s no time to be sedentary so pop in an exercise dvd if the weather’s bad!
annae07 at aol dot com
Beth B says
Need a good balance of (1) Eating small and eating often!, (2) drinking water (cut out the sugary drinks) and (3) be active – play with your kids – every little bit counts!
Rachel M. says
Plenty of exercise.
Nadine L says
I don’t deprive myself. I have a smaller portion of everything I want instead of piling on one or two things
Anne marie says
My tip is keep up the exercise routine.
Sheila H says
My tip is to try and stay active by exercising. I still eat all of holiday goodies, but I don’t go crazy and overeat.Portion control is important with food any time of the year. You can still enjoy all of the holiday yummies without going overboard.
Christina Brundick says
I take airborne at the sign of a cold,frequent handwashing and Lysol
Christina Brundick says
Sorry if doublepost,if gave me a programming error message. I Lysol,Airborne and handwash.
Mommydoll13 says
eat healthy and wash hands alot…
dollhousecreation(at)gmail(dot)com
Cathy says
I stay healthy by minimizing how many sweets stay in the house. Thank you for the giveaway!
Zenaida says
Drinking plenty of water and taking plenty of walks!
Mami2jcn says
I get a flu shot and take vitamins.
Georgia says
I just watch how much I am eating sweets. They are the thing that gets me. I love sweets and the holidays are full of them!
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Betsy says
everything in moderation. and try not to eat more cookie batter than what goes onto the cookie sheets!
Kathy Eyre says
Wash, wash, wash your hands, then wash them again!
Lynn says
Eat in moderation and don’t forget to stay hydrated!
Lauren says
Remember thst the holiday season is long. Pace yourself.
Wendy says
I love my crockpot! It is definitely a wise investment for a busy person.
Susan Chester says
My tip is to just nibble at all the holiday goodies so you don’t gain too much weight.
smchester at gmail dot com
patricia says
My tip is to get plenty of rest and drink alot of water.
Jennifer Marie says
I wash my hands frequently to stay healthy.
Eileen says
my tip is to not skip meals when racing all over shopping, decorating, getting ready for company, etc. Make sure you grab some healthy foods while out, even if they are healthy frozen dinners. Beats ending up at the fast food drive up and spending way too much, and feeling yucky and sluggish for the holidays!
Roxy says
my tip to stay healthy is to lose weight before the holidays begin!
Mary Casper says
exercise and drinking lots of water
kjasus says
washing hands….a lot!
Robin says
I stay healthy during the holidays by keeping up my excercise routine.
Deanna G. says
Stay active!
April V. says
Make everything you do a bit of exercise. Dance while vacuming, take the stairs, fastwalk from car to store/office, etc.
melissa Resnick says
hand wash alot
Cyndi says
Drink lots of water, eat an orange a day, and take some of my son’s gummy vitamins!
ferriz says
always wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer and tissues!
Mary Casper says
walk as much as i can and drink lots of water
bobbi says
Never skip exercise routine and only drink water.
Susan Smith says
I exercise, get enough sleep and try to eat healthy.
Jill Myrick says
Along with our traditional holiday meal I also prepare various salads, steamed vegetables and gelatin/fruit desserts that way I don’t over indulge on foods that are high in calories or sugar.
I also add an extra mile to my daily walk.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Theresa D says
My tips for staying healthy is to take the time to get enough rest and to wash your hands often.
Erica C. says
I try to make sure we eat well and sleep a decent amount each night.
Amber Pici says
eat smaller portions
Tabathia B says
I walk daily at the park while my kids are at the park
Debbie C says
Avoid the harsher alcoholic drinks at parties, both for safety and health. Opt for wine spritzers or liquors mixed with sodas or juices in a tall glass so it lasts a long time.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
Erin says
I try to stick to my routine, even though I’m busy, which includes exercise. And try to limit sweets!
Crystal K. says
Watching my calorie intake and trying to eat more whole foods.
Steph S says
I try not to keep food around that is tempting…if I take goodies to a party I ask the host to keep the leftovers.
Jason Vaughn says
Tip: Avoid Pecan Pie
ryan minton says
take your vitamins and watch what you eat at holiday work parties.
[email protected]
Jill L says
I make sure to take time for myself and not overschedule. It would be nice to attend everything, but I’ve learned to say no.
Amyc says
Wash your hands after using the restroom and keep hand sanitizer with you to keep your hands clean on the go!
Kat O. says
I eat carrots and celery while cooking my holiday meals so I don’t taste everything and end up overeating. 🙂
Aubrey Briskin says
drink lots of water
Christine Pescatore says
Eating a healthy snack prior to holiday meals. And spacing out desserts over the course of the month.
Charity S says
Try to exercies a little more.
Tenisha Edwards says
I drink green smoothies daily and workout
Kathryn Skokna says
Small portions throughout the day and putting more fruit/nuts in the stocking this year…not as much candy.
Codie Wiley says
Workout three times a week and do not eat until stuffed!!
Emily C says
Funny enough, I bake ALOT! Once I have spent all that time baking I have no desire to eat it! Sounds crazy but it works for me!
amanda j says
I just moved to Florida this year, so I am fortunate enough to be able to be outdoors during the holiday season. I’ll be taking more jogs and playing with my 4 year old to burn off all of the wonderful holiday foods!!
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Drink drink drink! Water, that is.
wendy says
exercise more
Cynthia C says
My tip is to exercise, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and avoid crowds as much as possible.
allison gilmor says
EXCERCISE MORE!
Melody S says
Drink lots of water! The more water I drink… the less I want to snack.
Angela Cisco says
Eat balanced meals, and make sure you get your vitamin d
Angela Cisco says
I put the wrong thing in the linky box http://www.granitecitymom.com/p/giveaways.html
Debra Hall says
making sure i get my walks in everyday
Rebecca Peters says
I steer clear of the desserts and i exercise
Mary Casper says
esting light, walking and lots of water
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
wash hands after all those hugs and such
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Karen says
Tips for staying healthy? Lots and lots of Vitamin C.
Valeen N says
Try to stay rested and drink lots of water in this busy, busy season!
Claire McKeon says
If I am going out I eat a healthy snack before I leave so I am not starving and tempted to overeat
Nicole Thoresen says
eat smaller portions, instead of pigging out, eat a little of everything.
colleen boudreau says
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.
holliister at gmail dot com
Jody Sisson says
Eat in moderation and exercise.
Jennifer C says
I stay healthy by wiping the carts with sanitizer.
Jessica says
walk daily and limit the sweets
Christy Ann says
Don’t stop exercising just because it’s cold out!! This is something I need to work on – when I get cold, I get lazy.
MelissaO says
I schedule exercise into my calendar so it’s in black and white/
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
Diane F says
Drink plenty of water, wash hands and get plenty of sleep.
Jen W says
Exercise!
monica says
I stay healthy by eating in moderation around the holidays. I enjoy all my favorites, but tasting rather than overindulging!
Peter Dale says
Try to eat right and take E-mergency when you feel a little off.
jennifer df says
How I stay healthy over the holidays is by going to the gym and doing zumba almost every day!
Pauline M says
I try to stay away from all the gift baskets and candy that just happens to show up at the office.
mistysunrise says
stay away from sweets.
Tiffany Hearn says
I eat what I want in moderation. We also love to take walks together with my family after dinner. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Annette D says
I make sure to get enough exercise by walking our dog every day!
Shelley Mitchell says
I stay healthy by exercising more. I love Christmas cookies so by working out more it allows me eat some without gaining weight.
msjem2001 at yahoo dot com
happi shopr says
Get plenty of rest, eat well, take vitamins and exercise
Julie L says
control portions and get enough sleep
thanks
Lisa Garner says
I walk everyday during the Holiday season and don’t deny myself the special holiday treats but only eat them in moderation.
Julie Moe says
Always wash your hands!
carol y l says
Do not overindulge and keep up your eating rand exercise routine.
spcale at yahoo dot com.
Noelle Cagle says
We use myfitnesspal.com ( a free site) to keep track of everything that goes in our mouths. It really helps!
Sara Zielinski says
To stay healthy during the holidays don’t forget to eat your fruits and vegetables and get enough sleep, don’t stress out over it too much the holidays are supposed to be a happy time!
Tara Woods says
During the holidays I exercise more, I do portion control and I limit my sweets.
ewhatley says
I stick to my exercise routine to feel better and have more energy.
Tricia T. says
Go for the healthy food and minimize the amount of sweets.
Laura Jacobson says
We carry the gel hand sanitizer with us while out and about so we can wash our hands after leaving stores.
dawn says
I stay organized and actually up my exercise routine, it actually helps me stay focused
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Shannon says
I eat healthy and exercise but I do have treats in small amounts
Chris N says
Get plenty of sleep. That will make everything else work out ok.
ezmerelda at mail dot com
Karen M says
My tip for staying healty during the holiday season is to participate with a group at work that makes a commitment to exercise or workout at least three days per week. We all benefit. Thanks.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
It helps to keep lots of fresh produce around to munch on before a party…never go to a pary ravenously hungry..
Kim Smith says
I make time in my day to workout
Sand says
Get in a little time to exercise every day.
Michelle Spayde says
I let myself enjoy THE DAY, and stick to my usual routine the rest of the season.
kathy pease says
i try to walk an hour daily on the treadmill and drink lots of water
brian e. says
Thanks for the giveaway…our tip for staying healthy during the holiday season: enjoy the holiday food & drink in moderation, and try not to slack off too much on your daily exercise !
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
Rebecca Shockley says
drink lots of water and take daily walks if possible
Dree Getz says
Make your ever day meals healthier.
Betty Curran says
Watch your diet, try to eat healthier and avoid crowds where you are more likely to come in contact with those who are sick.
ashley says
my tip is to take something healthier to parties so you know there will be something not “too” bad for you to eat