Healthy Holiday Hacks

The holidays are centered around friends, family, and an abundance of delicious food. While it's okay to indulge once in a while, the key to getting through the holiday season while still feeling great is to practice portion control. It may seem nearly impossible to stay on-track with seasonal treats incessantly taunting you, so here are some healthy holiday hacks that will make this time of year a little easier to digest.

Bake Lighter:

Extra butter, oil, and sugar can leave you feeling sluggish over the holidays. If you’re baking this season, you can easily swap certain ingredients to make your favorite dishes nutritious and lower in calories. For example, you can replace half the amount of butter in your recipe with applesauce to reduce calories! If the recipe calls for one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and half a cup of applesauce.

Sip on Peppermint:

Mint is one of the strongest scents of the season. Rather than indulging in a sugar candy cane to get your fix, try sipping on peppermint tea instead.

Eat Before Events:

Don’t show-up to a holiday party without eating something beforehand. If you arrive feeling ravenous, chances are you’ll end up eating way more than you should leaving you with stomach discomfort and bloating.

Increase your Fiber Intake

Unfortunately, many of the foods that are served during this time of year are lacking fiber. Fiber, which is a key nutrient, helps to support healthy gastrointestinal function and should be consumed daily.* Try incorporating foods like oat bran for breakfast, beans and lentils as snacks, and raw veggies at holiday events if they’re offered.

Indulge your Other Senses:

Tasting sugar cookies can be satisfying in the moment, but after eating several you’ll quickly realize that it wasn’t the best idea. Studies show that certain smells can actually support your appetite control. Invest in several seasonal candles so you can still enjoy the aroma of the holiday season without losing sight of your health goals.

Beat the Bloat:

It’s not uncommon for holiday food to cause bloating. One way to reduce the occasional feeling of gas or fullness is to take Nature’s Bounty Probiotic Gx.* The supplement helps alleviate occasional bloating and gassiness and helps with abdominal comfort so you can feel your healthy best!*