Staying grounded for a joyous holiday season…
As we continue to journey through the holiday season, I'd like to add to the tips we discussed last week on adding balance, planning, and a little physical activity when approaching the holiday season. These are all important parts of minimizing the stress and weight gain that can creep into our fun.
Today I'll share tips for staying grounded and maintaining your energy while enjoying some of those wonderful foods. We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the craziness of preparing for the holidays, and those delicious cookies, cakes, and drinks are fun to enjoy but can leave us feeling more frazzled. Here are some tips so you CAN enjoy them, while balancing out your food and energy so it doesn't turn into overwhelm.
Grounding Foods… Adding Root & Tuber "grounding" vegetables can help us feel more grounded. These are a great compliment to the "whole foods & greens" we talked about last week. So how do we do this while busily running around with the big "to do list"? These can be used in hearty soups (make ahead and freeze, to enjoy for lunches or those busy evenings), or roasted in the oven (to satisfy the sweet craving).
Root and tuber vegetables grow in or on top of the ground making it easier to remember that they can add grounding properties to our well-being. Just peel and cut them into cubes in advance, store covered in the refrigerator, and they can be easily added into the diet by baking, roasting them with a little olive oil, or adding to soups. Adding these and other grounding foods like sweet vegetables, fish, and lean meats can give us the nutrients we need while creating the balance our bodies crave, especially when our routine is off.
Staying hydrated… I'm sure you hear it all the time to drink your water, but did you know that being the slightest bit dehydrated can leave you low on energy and craving sweets and caffeine? It's true, so make sure to take your water with you while you are out doing errands to stay hydrated and ward off the unwanted sweet cravings.
De-cluttering…In the midst of my pre-holiday whirlwind I notice as the papers, bills, & sale catalogs begin to pile up on the countertops, table, and desk, my anxiety increases along with them. So I'll share with you my favorite "de-cluttering" time out. This can be done in the morning, mid afternoon when the kids are off to school, or in the quiet of the evening.
Steep a cup of your favorite tea, light a candle or two, then put all the piles of papers into one pile with a trash can and file folder handy. Sift through each document until you reach the bottom. This may seem very basic, but how often do you ignore the papers while growing more anxious knowing they are there? It's amazing how good it feels just seeing clear countertops, it has an instant calming reaction. Plus an added benefit; a little quiet time:).
Stay tuned next week for the grand finale, pure relaxation!
