The holidays are full of festivities, family and friends. They are a time of joy, love, stress and often over indulgence that leaves of feeling bloated and tired. Fortunately, here are a few simple tricks to maintain your health, reduce cravings and wrap up the year feeling better than you ever have before!

Eat Balanced Meals. Eat 2 to 3 balanced meals each day to help avoid cravings. Include with each meal 1 to 2 cups of vegetables, 4 to 8 ounces of protein and healthy fat in the form of avocado, aged cheese, olive oil, coconut oil or butter from grass-fed cows. Eating balanced meals at your normally scheduled times will help to avoid cravings for sweets and other snacks.

Include Soups Made from Homemade Bone Broth. Soups are great way to warm you up and satisfy your hunger on a cold winter day. Soups made with traditional bone broth have added minerals and collagen which help build healthy skin, hair and nails as well as lubricating joints to alleviate stiffness.

Remember to Hydrate. Did you know that one of the reasons we crave sweets is because we are actually thirsty? It’s true. Our ancestors craved the sweet taste of berries and fruits when there was not enough water present because these foods contained an abundance of thirst quenching moisture. But holiday cookies and sweet treats do not have this ability and can actually dehydrate you even more.

Make sure to get plenty of water to kick sugar cravings. Drink ½ your body weight in ounces each day using the following formula.

Weight in lbs. ÷ 2 = # of ounces to drink

For example, a person weighing 160 lbs should be drinking 80 ounces or 10 cups of water each day.

160 ÷ 2 = 80 ounces

For an added boost, add a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of citrus to your water and create an instant electrolyte kick of hydrating minerals and added vitamin c for winter immune protection.

Choose Homemade Rather Than Processed Foods. Many packaged and processed foods contain high levels of hidden sugar. Even a 6 ounce container of fruit flavored yogurt can contain a whopping 5 teaspoons of sugar! Eating homemade, real food will help you avoid excessive sugar and sodium intake. Plus, it will be more delicious and satisfying. Eating foods made at home puts the power of health back in your hands as you can choose more healthful ingredients like seasonable vegetables, grass-fed meats and pastured poultry while avoiding unhealthy toxins and additives.

Indulge with Moderation. The holidays are a time to celebrate with friends and family. Food and drink are often an enjoyable part of these celebrations. Remember it’s not that one holiday cookie or cocktail that will break the bank when it comes to maintaining a healthy body and feeling great. It’s ok to enjoy a special treat on occasion. But, to avoid overdoing it follow these 3 tips:

• Eat a balanced meal including vegetables & protein before going to the party so you don’t show up hungry and ready to eat everything on the buffet table.
• Stay hydrated. Begin early in the day drinking plenty of water to avoid cravings for excessive sweets and alcohol.
• Enjoy! Yes, thoroughly enjoy the food you choose to eat and the company you are with. By being relaxed and enjoying the moment without guilt, you will be less likely to binge on unhealthy food during and after the party.

Don’t Forget to Exercise. I think most of us would agree that the holiday season tends to be busy, busy, busy! The first thing that tends to go when our schedules get hectic is exercise. Remember that in order to best care for others, you must care for yourself first and physical activity improves our physical and mental state of being. Shoot for at least 1 hour per day but if it’s just not possible, even 30 minutes is better than nothing at all.

Maintain Your Sleep Schedule – Irregular sleep schedules and poor sleep quality has been proven to be linked to poor eating habits, depression, fatigue and lowered immunity.  Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule in which you go to bed and wake up at about the same time each day. Remove computers, cell phones and other electronics from your sleep space. Create a quiet, peaceful space to sleep. Avoid blue screen devices at least 2 hours before bed time. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, more for teenagers and young children.

Well there you have it. 7 simple tips to help you survive the holidays like a boss! Happy Holidays and may you always be “Living Life Healthy and Happy”.