The holidays are meant to be a time of celebration and appreciation for life.
They provide a great opportunity to take a break from our daily work, gather with loved ones and reflect on the many blessings we’ve been graced with.
High on the list of these blessings is our physical health. We’ve each been graced with an absolutely miraculous physical body that works tirelessly to keep up with our ambitions and missions in the world. Whether you feel you are in excellent physical health or not, the basic functions of your body are enough to inspire a deep sense of gratitude if you really take a moment to appreciate them.
So, this Thanksgiving, in addition to celebrating your loving relationships and the splendor of delicious and abundant food, be sure to take special care of your precious body. As you take a little vacation from your normal work life put even more attention on your self care practices. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you enjoy a 
healthy Thanksgiving:
- Drink plenty of water in the morning and between meals. Sometimes when there’s such good food and fancy beverages around we forget to drink water. But staying well hydrated during the holiday will help you feel better and keep the holiday damage to a minimum.
- Choose your food mindfully. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you have to abuse yourself with food or stuff it all in there. Look at the holiday spread and really appreciate it before you start to fill your plate. Notice what is there and then decide what you will put on your plate. Choose only a few different things (instead of trying to get some of everything) so that your body can digest properly. Make sure you have some good green vegetables on your plate. Notice the desserts too and choose mindfully. This doesn’t mean you can’t eat some of your old time favorites. It just means that you are choosing consciously and considering moderation with respect for your body.
- Watch out for sugar. It’s easy to overdo it with sugar during the holidays. Pay attention to your sugar consumption and try to keep it to a minimum. Sugar indulgences can sometimes open the door to excessive bingeing because of the addictive properties of sugar.
Get out and move. After dinner walks, stretching before bed or a little morning exercise are great additions to holiday visiting. Ask your favorite family member to join you or take this time for a little alone time if family visiting feels stressful.
- Take it easy. Remember that holidays are supposed to be a celebration, not a crazy stress-fest. If holidays are typically stressful for you make a special commitment this year to take it easy. It doesn’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to meet everyone’s expectations. Identify the things that you love about the holidays and focus your energy on those things. Let the rest of it fall away. It won’t be the end of the world and you might even enjoy yourself.
- Use healthy holiday recipes. If you are making food to share with your family, make something delicious and healthy. Follow this link to find a great selection deliciously healthy recipes to find main dishes or desserts that would enhance the nutrition and flavor of your holiday spread. They’re so yummy that your family doesn’t even have to know that they’re “healthy”…it can be our little secret. My personal holiday favorites from this list include…
Have a wonderful, healthy, happy Thanksgiving and a super awesome Holiday Season!!
You’re invited to schedule a Personal Strategy Session with me to receive loving guidance and practical support for your personal transformation and holistic wellbeing. Jo delAmor, Personal Transformation Coach.
