{"id":8834,"date":"2025-02-03T00:51:48","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T13:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/?p=8834"},"modified":"2025-01-17T00:52:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T13:52:58","slug":"healthy-holiday-habits-festive-season-central-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/healthy-holiday-habits-festive-season-central-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Happy Healthy Holiday Habits for a Fabulous Festive Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Carin Clegg, Accredited Practising Dietitian<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are twelve happy healthy holiday habits to keep everyone feeling fabulous during the festive season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask for gift suggestions
<\/strong>For many families, receiving lots of stuff with all the packaging and gift wrap, then having to find a place for said stuff can get quite overwhelming. So, asking people what they might like
if you do want to give a gift can be helpful for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose active gifts for young and old
<\/strong>We all want to reduce our screen time, move our body more and experience the joys of life. Consider gifts of activity and participation. Joining together to buy vouchers to classes, sport equipment or adventure vouchers will be loved longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk, run or ride around your neighbourhood to see the Christmas lights
<\/strong>Spending time with a friend or your family to go around your neighbourhood during the long summer evenings can be a great way to relax after a busy day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring something nutritious and delicious
<\/strong>Remember, trying to ration out \u2018sometimes\u2019 foods when there is already a huge stock from birthdays, Easter, Halloween, and other celebrations spread out over the year can be difficult for families. Avoid opting for cheap \u2018sometimes\u2019 foods, which most people are trying to limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something fresh and homemade is always going to be tastier and more valued by everyone at the party. Some fruit, nuts, cheese and crackers, veggie sticks and dips are great nibbly options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selecting one food and bringing it to all your social gatherings makes it a routine and makes nutritious choices easier. For example, I am the salad person, so I always bring a salad. Another person might be the veggie stick person or fruit platter person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practise mindful eating
<\/strong>Enjoy the full experience of eating. Slow down and take it all in. The smells, the texture, the memories of past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be present in the moment and enjoy your food. Savour the flavours of your favourite foods rather than over\u2013eating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunger monitoring
<\/strong>Often at social events we don\u2019t notice how much, and what exactly, we eat. We all eat for reasons apart from true hunger and we can retrain our body to get back in touch with our true hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the day, think about what your hunger signals are telling you. Aim to avoid being starved or stuffed. Honour your hunger by eating when your body needs to and aim to eat to 70 percent full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Label reading
<\/strong>Compare similar products using the per 100g column on the nutrition information panel to help you make the best choice. Choose foods that are \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n