12 Healthy Foods You Can Snack On During the Holidays
December 24, 2008
Are you concerned about overindulging on holiday party foods? Do you want to ensure you get the proper nutrition during the holidays? The holidays are notoriously blamed for weight gain.
Most who celebrate holidays with feast-filled gatherings neglect to increase exercise as well. This simple oversight can lead to adding a large amount of excess weight in a very short amount of time.
As we all know, celebrating the holidays is hardly accomplished without eating. This year you can make smarter decisions about what to put in your mouth, though.
Here is a list of twelve healthy foods you can snack on during the holidays that won’t put on the pounds.
- Fresh vegetables with low-fat dip
- Marinated, grilled chicken breast (boneless, skinless) fingers
- Nuts & seeds
- Whole-grain cereals
- Low-fat mozzarella sticks
- Salsa
- Reduced-fat & whole-grain crackers
- Fresh fruit kabobs
- Kettle’s potato chips (just a handful or two)
- Granola bars
- Rice cake with peanut butter
- Yogurt
Of course, family gatherings aren’t always filled with healthy foods. As such, you should remember to plan ahead for every social event. Volunteer to bring party foods along. This way you can be sure that there will be healthy foods available for you to snack on.
It is possible to maintain healthy eating habits during the holidays. You have to be proactive in doing this for yourself, though.
Solve The Great Debate of Where To Spend This Christmas
December 23, 2008
Christmas is the time of the year when families gather together to celebrate as a family. It is also a time when much debate takes place over where Christmas will be spent. When you throw in blended families and in-laws, you end up with a whole mish-mash of invitations.
So how in the world do you decide where to spend Christmas? There is more than one way to deal with this problem. Finding the way that works best for you is something that could, unfortunately, take a few years to figure out.
Visit everyone
Some families choose to pack up the family vehicle and hit the road during Christmas week. They visit one family after another, accepting all invitations they receive. Of course, by the time they return home, toys and gifts have filled every nook and cranny. Not to mention bellies are too full from an entire day of eating on the run.
Draw a straw
Other families choose the draw a straw method. In this case, one spot is chosen for the family to spend Christmas. They spend Christmas with one family and enjoy the entire day there, without all the hassles of shuffling the whole family from one place to another all day. In this case, families usually choose to pick one family this year, then alternate it with another destination the next year. This way everybody is happy.
Just stay home
There are some who despise traveling for Christmas. Many families with younger children prefer to stay at home and enjoy Christmas as a family with their children. Although not very many families do this today, it is a possibility to try if you can’t decide where to spend Christmas this year.
How to Make The Holidays Special For Your Children
December 23, 2008
Christmas is always such a fun and special time for children. The world is changing so fast that children are growing up much quicker than they used to. It is important to take time to make the holidays special for your children every year. I have some quick tips on how to do that this year.
- Go caroling. Not very many people go caroling anymore. Gather a group of family and friends and walk through your neighborhood and sing Christmas carols. Your children will absolutely love it!
- Have a hay ride. Next to caroling, hay rides are becoming scarce as well. Why not hitch up the trailer, throw on some bundles of hay, and have fun riding through town caroling.
- Read a favorite Christmas story together. Children love books. Even more so, they love for their parents to read to them. Choose a favorite Christmas book, settle down by the fireplace or Christmas tree and read the book together as a family.
- Watch Christmas movies together. Not all children enjoy reading, so if yours doesn’t, then choose a nice holiday movie to watch together instead. Pop some corn, make some hot chocolate and snuggle together to watch a movie.
- Cook Christmas dinner together. All kids love hanging out and helping in the kitchen. Plan an entire dinner around the family cooking together.
Spending time with your children is important. During the holidays, these special memories you are creating will stay with them for a lifetime. Make every moment count and make treasured memories this holiday season.
