The holidays are SO busy for us (and everyone) and it has been way too easy lately to just say “we will worry about being healthy when they’re over.” But the unhealthy food is really starting to weight on me and I want to feel good and back to my normal self. Today I am starting fresh and trying to adopt some healthier habits for the rest of the holidays!

It is so hard to stay healthy when you have holiday parties galore filled with your favorite unhealthy foods. I cannot resist appetizers when they are in front of me, I literally have NO self control. But I can make an effort to make my meals at home healthier. So here are 5 changes I am making in my daily life to try and get myself back on track.

start your day right

For me, I find that if I start my day on a good foot, I am way more likely to keep up healthy habits the rest of the day. If my day starts with pastries, pancakes or butter soaked skillets, the rest of the day will follow suit. The moment I wake up, I down a big glass of water. When I am trying to be extra healthy, I have a detox drink in the morning too. So for the rest of the holidays I am going to do that. Either (1) lemon + apple cider vinegar…I know, this tastes absolutely god awful, but it is a quick chug and the benefits are amazing; or (2) celery juice. I have not done a ton of research on this, but my mom and family friend were talking about it this weekend, and it inspired me to give it a try.

intermittent fasting

I am getting back on this and, aside from my morning juice, trying to keep my eating hours between 12-6pm when I can control it. Obviously, on holiday party days this is near impossible. But I will make a conscious effort to be better about it on non-holiday party days. On days when I eat late into the evening, I wake up the next morning almost feeling like I have a hangover. My mornings feel heavier and lazier. Days after I cut off my eating earlier, I wake up energized and ready to go. I need to be better about listening to my body in general.

dessert TWICE a week

In a normal, non holiday season week, I would never have to try to stick to dessert only twice a week. But during the holidays I have to make a conscious effort to ditch the sugar. Instead of letting myself have dessert at every party (and as leftovers for the next week) I am giving myself two cheats a week. That means planning out my week and saving my cheats for the really good stuff!

detox often

Other times of the year, I do not need to detox as often. But over the holidays, maintenance detoxes become a necessity. I am trying to plan a weekly detox into my routine for the rest of the holiday season. This week, detox is happening on Sunday, because I literally have something every single day until then. My Sunday detox is going to be simple. Fast until 1pm, celery juice to break my fast then a smoothie for lunch and a detox salad for dinner. My go to detox salad includes lemon, avocado & apple cider vinegar + whatever other antimfiammatories I am craving that day.

plan your week

So far this holiday season, I have been flying by the seat of my pants. If you know you have two holiday parties that week, plan your meals around it. Pick lighter, healthier options so you can indulge at the party! On that note, here are the meals I am making this week! I have something 5 out of 7 nights this week, which means I need to be really good the meals I can control. I also want healthy meals in the fridge for the Blakes when I am gone.

 

 

SHREDDED BRUSSEL SPROUT SALAD – Iowagirleats.com

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN SOUP – backtothebooknutrition.com 

LEMON COUSCOUS SALAD – barefeetinthekitchen.com

GROCERY LIST

rotisserie chicken (x2)

couscous

craisins

pecans (using pecans in couscous instead of pistachios)

lemon

brussel sprouts

shallots

pears

garlic

yellow onion

red onion

carrot

fresh parsley

celery (for soup and juicing)

bay leaf

thyme

cinnamon stick

basmati rice

chicken broth