7 Tips For Staying Healthy Over The Holidays & Avoiding Tummy Trouble

Can you believe the holiday season is upon us already?  I know I’m with you – It’s crazy how fast time flies by.

This is the busiest, shiniest, yummiest and craziest time of the year but it is the time of year when you are most likely to fall flat when it comes to your self-care routine.

However, with the new year around the corner, this is actually the best time to ease yourself into healthy practices to nurture your body and feed your soul.

In this post, I’m sharing my top tips for staying healthy over the holidays and avoiding any tummy trouble.     

#1 Get a workout/meditation/yoga session in first thing in the morning. 

This will start you off on the right track, because as the day moves on it’ll only get harder, with visitors, cooking, wrapping and what not.  Let’s just say there’ll be a lot of distractions.  Plus the last thing you want to do is interrupt a social outing to do some self-care.  This is the time of year when you get to catch up with your friends and family. Make the most of it and feel good doing so by having done your routines in the morning.  

#2 Have a green juice or smoothie 2 hours before your meal 

Having a green drink before your meal will ensure you are not starving come mealtime which will help avoid overeating.  It will also give you a super nutrient boost, and help you cope with the usual holiday fare.  

In fact in a season when we’re surrounded by sweets and celebratory foods, we need a little extra support to make healthy choices so I’m making this my number one tip for the entire holiday season.  

Drink a green juice or smoothie every day over the festive period.  Why not? It only takes a few minutes to whip up a green drink.  This is one of the best ways to add nutrient-dense foods to your daily diet and support your digestive system.

This habit will also help boost your energy, immune system and overall health. Plus, when I start my day with a green drink, I’m more likely to continue to make good choices throughout the day.

#3 Sip on hot water with lemon juice or a drop of high grade, pure lemon essential oil 10-15 minutes before your meal. 

This will help get those digestive juices flowing and allow your body to break down food more quickly and easily.

#4 Go ‘to town’ with your sides & salads

When mealtime comes, start with a salad, and make sure your main plate is filled with hefty portions of vegetables.  Most side dishes are plant-based and packed with nutrients. Don’t forget about them!

#5 Eat slowly and don’t forget to chew

Pace yourself.  Put your fork down between bites. Get stuck into the conversation. Your tummy don’t got teeth!  So ease the burden by chewing your food.

#6 Have some dessert, you deserve it!

I don’t believe in making yourself feel bad about the food you choose to put into your body.  Practicing healthy eating is a mindset. It would serve you well to forget the ‘good versus bad’ food mentality and just do the best you can with what you have.    

#7 When you’re finished with dessert, have some ginger tea

This will help you to digest your meal and ease any flatulence.

Dealing with tummy trouble

This time of year can also be stressful for some.  And if you suffer from tummy upset then that along with the holiday food can provide the perfect storm for your symptoms to flair.

Quite literally your digestive system is the centre of your mental and physical health.  So you could say it’s worth taking care of especially if you want to make the most of the holidays.

I hope these suggestions help you feel more comfortable and prepared to fully enjoy the pleasures of the season without overdoing it.

If you’ve any more tips I’d love to hear them.  Leave your suggestions below.

Lorna’s journey to plant-based eating was fueled by her personal health challenges. It kickstarted years of study in plant-based nutritional therapy, and hundreds of hours counselling patients through their transformations via diet, alone. Now, she’s making it her life’s mission to help others discover and excel on their own journey to more mindful nutrition.  Lorna has written an informative and inspiring free 5-day course to guide people to better health.  

<<Try out this Rest and Digest video to ease your digestion>>