The Blog

The holiday season has arrived, and with it comes the chance to eat lots of high-calorie treats and do lots of lounging. Everybody likes to indulge, especially this time of year, but the greatest gift you can give yourself is to stay on track with your health goals!

Healthy Holiday Activities:

Holiday Themed Workouts– Whether it’s Christmas Yoga Poses for Kids, the 12 Days of Christmas Workout, or exercising to your favorite holiday films and songs, there are plenty of festive ways to break a sweat while celebrating the season!

Traditions turned fitness activities– Everybody has their own annual holiday traditions, so why not turn those traditions into a workout? Go caroling, put up lights and decorations, take a family walk after that big holiday dinner, have a friendly family football game; you’ve got a lot of ways to stay active without replacing any of our favorite traditions.

Healthy Holiday Food:

Spinach Latkes– These spinach pancakes make an excellent low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian substitute to traditional latkes.

Winter Fruit Salad– Utilize seasonal fruits for this vitamin rich salad during the cold winter months.

Santa Veggie Tray– Using Cauliflower, Red Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, and Cherry Tomatoes, this tasty and healthy side dish makes a jolly addition to any holiday party!

Frozen Banana Penguins– Frozen bananas and just a bit of melted dark chocolate make some cute little critters for the kids (AND adults!) to enjoy.

Snowman Popcorn Cups– Popcorn can be a filling, low-calorie alternative to all of those sugary treats floating around throughout the season. Dress it up a bit by putting it in cups decorated like snowmen for a little extra fun!

Mindful Eating– Being sure to consciously eat healthy during the holiday season can do wonders for you health. Having a salad prior to your holiday meal, eating slowly and allowing yourself to savor every bite, and filling your plate with veggies before adding any entrees are all great ways to be mindful while enjoying your food.

If you’d like more ideas to stay healthy this holiday season, give our free Living Healthier Coach hotline a call! Available in English and Spanish, Call 1-844-26COACH M-F from 9:00-5:00(CST) for some personalized advice from fellow Texans. For quick tips to shop and cook healthy throughout the season, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has some great info, and we’ve got a video series as well! And, of course, be sure to check out our Healthy Holiday Pinterest board for more healthy holiday recipes and activities.