Let’s be honest: the holidays are a great time of year, but they aren’t exactly known for healthy eating. In fact, for many people, just the opposite is true. This is the time of year when indulging in treats becomes the norm at countless parties and gatherings from late November on through to the new year.
Now, we aren’t here to say that all of those celebrations are bad. Far from it. The holidays are a wonderful time of year, and at InReach, we enjoy getting in on the fun by offering holiday snack gift baskets that can be enjoyed by all. These baskets include many favorite holiday flavors and will brighten the season for any recipient.
At the same time, there is some room within the holiday season to fine-tune some healthy eating habits that will make indulging on special occasions all that much more enjoyable.
One of the best strategies for people who are trying to either start eating healthier or maintain a healthy eating habit during the holiday season is to plan out their week in advance. For example, if there is a holiday party coming up on a Friday night where some tasty foods will be served, that can be factored into the plan, and extra care can be taken to eat healthy during the days leading up.
To help office workers stick with their dietary goals, InReach offers a unique wellness vending program. This ensures that healthy vending machine snacks are available during the workday so everyone can make the choices that are right for their goals.
Maintaining a healthy diet always involves portion control, but that skill is made even more important during this time of year. Some of the most popular holiday treats that are enjoyed by people from coast to coast pack a lot of calories into rather small bites. If those foods are going to be enjoyed while keeping up with a healthy eating plan, controlling the portions is critical. For example, having two bites of an enjoyable holiday treat, rather than a whole plate, may still satisfy cravings without coming with such a significant calorie load.
For avid home cooks who like to make treats during the holiday season, it may be possible to put a new spin on some old favorites in order to get a similar effect. One popular strategy is to use a sweetener like maple syrup for desserts rather than refined sugar. Another option is to use Greek yogurt in some recipes instead of heavy cream. This is a fun way to maintain some holiday traditions that might go back for generations without deviating too far from a healthy eating plan that has been working.
When managed properly, it’s possible to simply enjoy the holidays, take part in some indulgences, and still stay on a healthy track in the big picture. Toward that end, it might be helpful to start thinking early about what the post-holiday period is going to look like. Knowing what type of healthy eating habits are going to go back into place once the calendar flips over to January will make it possible to take part in holiday festivities with no reservations.
Making healthy office snacks and drinks available in your office can be as easy as contacting InReach to learn more about the many services we offer. The people who work in your building will appreciate having healthy office vending machines to pick from, and you will love the way these features promote engagement and connection throughout the team. Get started today!