Healthy Hacks for Surviving Christmas

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Behold, the season of all the good food is upon us!!! YAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!

I've spoken to so many of you about what your biggest health struggle is over the holidays, and inevitably, food is a huge one. You feel like you undo all of your hard work throughout the year in these last few months, only to start the new year off with new plans of getting your health in

order again. And the majority of us stay on that cycle for our whole lives. Sound familiar?

I want you to feel like this year is different. Instead of throwing all caution to the wind and waiting for the new year to roll around, I want to help you find your perfect balance of feeling on track and still enjoying the heck out of those yummy holiday dishes.

That’s why you should make sure to incorporate these healthy hacks into your Christmas to survive the holiday.

1. Eat your breakfast

You may think you’re heading things off at the pass by not eating breakfast, however by the time you get to that big Christmas dinner, you’ll be so hungry you’ll likely over-eat. Make a healthy breakfast choice, and have a hearty salad for lunch. It will keep your blood sugar balanced so you won’t become too hungry, and you'll have made great choices all day and can indulge a little at Christmas dinner. Just don't "FORGET" to eat during the hustle and bustle of the day.

2. Walk it off

Instead of just lounging all day waiting for the big meal to arrive on the table, go for a walk. After gifts have been open and breakfast eaten, go for a morning walk. It helps to set the tone for the day and feels great to get some fresh air! In fact, involve your relatives and make it a family affair by taking a long stroll. Not only is it relaxing and good quality time, but it will also help you digest your food better.

3. Lookout for the pitfalls of gravy

Gravy is one of the things we look forward to at Christmas... a little extra flavor we don't typically have throughout the year. However, be mindful of what you use to portion your gravy on your plate. A large ladle can rack up an extra 800 calories, just for the ladle of gravy. Instead, grab a tablespoon and drizzle your gravy onto your plate. By using this hack, you’ll still get to enjoy everything else and get your gravy too -- guilt free.

4. Bring a healthy side

If you’ve been invited to a Christmas dinner, make your side dish something healthy. There are lots of tasty options that everyone will love -- make a salad with homemade dressing, or bake sweet potatoes and dress them with sprinkles of cinnamon. These are incredibly simple and

loved by all, so you can't go wrong with either. You could also look up healthy Christmas side items on Pinterest to find something a little fancier if you love spending time in the kitchen whipping up new things!

5. Savor the desserts

This is not a free license to eat everything on the dessert table, however, if your grandma

makes the best butter-rum cake, make sure you ration yourself some room to enjoy a small piece. See lots you want to try? Take bite-sized samples of each, then sit and truly savor them. Don't overdo it, but enjoy those desserts you only get to have a few days per year.

6. Perfect your portions

When filling up your plate, load it up with veggies first, then the rest. When you make the majority of your plate veggies, you’ll feel fuller without feeling overstuffed. Plus, that gives you room to enjoy that dessert you’ve been pining for too.

What's your favorite Christmas tradition? Mine is playing family games! I don't know what happens to me though... I become "just a little" competitive...LOL! Hit reply and let me know what your favorite Christmas tradition is – I always love reading what others hold near and dear to their hearts this holiday!

Then, make sure to register for my FREE Webinar on Sugar Cravings happening in the New Year; http://bit.ly/KPBSugarCravingsWebinar

Start 2019 off with Healthy Swaps for living a more vibrant and energetic YOU!!!