If we’re being honest, our health and wellness goals tend to fall to the wayside during the holidays. The holiday party circuit makes it difficult to stick to a healthy routine, plus we love treating ourselves to peppermint mochas, baked goodies, and winter cocktails! While we think it’s important to indulge occasionally and enjoy the season, we also hate feeling sluggish and like we’ve totally abandoned all healthy habits. Instead missing out on holiday festivities and treats, Erin O’Leary Stewart of DEFINE body & mind says to focus on tweaking a few choices in between the indulgences we look forward to each season. By making a few slight changes, we can still enjoy ourselves without completely abandoning our health goals. Read on below for Erin’s tips and learn how even small modifications can make a big difference!

Focus on whole foods and plants between the festivities

Go to that party. Have that extra glass of champagne. Heck, enjoy your dessert! But the next day, get back on track. Start your day with lemon water to alkalize your body and rev up your metabolism. Follow with greens, whether a juice or a smoothie to fuel your body.

Fill your lunch plate with mostly vegetables (cooked or raw) and add a handful of high quality protein and healthy fats. Chickpeas, a hard-boiled egg, wild salmon, avocado, nuts/seeds and roasted chicken are all great choices. This green salad is a favorite as well!

Continuously consume water throughout the day to rehydrate your cells and make up for your indulgences and then make dinner a little smaller, focusing on warming, easy-to-digest foods, like soups and stews.

If in Houston, check out DEFINE foods’ weekly meal program delivery offerings to have on hand when your days are busy.

Carve Out Time for Yourself

It can be challenging to carve out time for yourself this time of year, so it’s important to schedule your wellness activities in advance and stick to them! Whether it’s a workout class (like a DEFINE Body & Mind class), or simply taking time to go on a walk and stretch, it will make you feel much better to reset! Even just thirty minutes of activity is sufficient for moving your blood and releasing inflammation. 

Make Healthy Swaps

While indulging is sometimes unavoidable at holiday parties, you can take matters into your own hands outside of festivities and when you host. Swap out wholesome ingredients for refined processed ones to feel better about enjoying dessert and other treats during the holidays. These healthy chocolate chip muffins are always a crowd pleaser!

In most recipes, try swapping this for that:

Coconut palm sugar for refined white sugar

Whole grain spelt flour for all purpose flour

Coconut or olive oils for vegetable oils

Plant milks for cow’s milk

Coconut whip for Ready Whip (have recipe if youd like)

Fruit purees for sugared jams or fat in baked goods

Himalayan or Celtic sea salt for refined white table salt

Find Balance

When you’re constantly running from one activity to the next, it can be overwhelming. Finding balance during the holidays is important to avoid stress from building up and coming out an inopportune times — like at a big family dinner! Taking time 10 minutes each day to mediate or enjoy a soothing detox tea will help you unwind, recenter, and focus on the joys of the season.

Take Care of Yourself

If you’re feeling under the weather, make this ginger, turmeric, garlic tonic at home to fight off any signs of getting sick.

Ingredients

1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, skin scraped

1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric, skin scraped

1 garlic clove, smashed

1 lemon, sliced

1 tsp local honey

Grate the ginger and turmeric into a small saucepan. Add the garlic and lemon slices and then fill with water. Bring to a boil. Turn down heat and allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes. Strain before serving. Serve with good quality local honey. Save the remaining and reheat for another cup.

 If you’re looking for a tea blend for your personal health needs (whether for detoxification, digestion, or immunity), check out the DEFINE Foods line of organic teas. 

Do you have any follow up questions for Erin about staying healthy during the holidays? Leave them in the comments below!

Today’s post is by HoH contributor Erin O’Leary Stewart, Co-Owner of DEFINE body & mind. DEFINE body & mind is a contemporary, body-mind concept leading the market in movement, meditation and mindfulness. Erin joined the company in 2011 as co-owner, playing a vital role in expanding the brand with its third location, developing new class programs and products, as well as creating DEFINE foods; a program dedicated to educating on the importance of whole foods health with a product line of next-level snacks, juices and tea. Erin’s background in the movement arts, kinesiology and dance profession with extensive teaching experience in Pilates, barre, dance and fitness classes coupled with a culinary degree from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, perfectly aligns with her role in and contribution to the success of DEFINE. In 2013, Erin transitioned to work on the implementation of the franchise program, with the ultimate goal of bringing DEFINE to every viable community, and she continues to instruct movement and culinary classes changing the way the world sees health and wellbeing. Consultations are available.