Healthy holidays

The holidays are a time to celebrate, give thanks, and reflect. They are also a time to pay special attention to your health. Don’t try to lose weight during the holidays — this may be a self-defeating goal. Instead, strive to maintain your weight by balancing party eating with other meals. Eat small, lower-calorie meals during the day so you can enjoy celebration foods later without overdoing your total calorie intake.

Here are some tips to help you stay healthy during the holidays.

• Feeling hungry can sabotage even the strongest willpower, so eat a small, low-fat snack such as fruit or low-fat cheese before you head out the door.
• Find activities the whole family can do such as walking, biking, roller-blading or hockey, and develop family fun-time habits that can continue after the holiday season.
• Keep a check on over-commitment and over-spending by balancing work, home, and play.