Hello there, holidays! Oh, how we have missed you! The festive season is here and that means long days spent relaxing and of course, eating and drinking a little more than usual. Live it up whilst staying healthy these holidays with these healthy habits you can easily incorporate into your routine.
If you are like most of us South Africans during the holiday season, then you’re likely to spend a lot less time working out and a lot more time indulging in sweet treats, braais, buffet tables and your aunt’s infamous mince pies. Diets are for the new year, right?
But this indulgent time doesn’t mean you have to test your willpower. It’s all about finding that balance between treating yourself but also finding the time to get in a little walk or having a healthy breakfast.
Here are 5 Healthy Habits to Incorporate into Your Holiday Routine:
1. Eat a little less junk and a little more wholesome foods
Here’s the thing about unhealthy eating habits and eating one too many mince pies: you don’t feel great about yourself after overindulging. And what’s more, your body also feels sluggish and tired after eating junk food as it struggles to digest and process these sorts of unhealthy foods.
Read also: Food Poisoning & Food Safety Tips for The Festive Season
But we’re not saying you shouldn’t treat yourself, but instead of having 6 mince pies after dinner, try to have one mince pie with a cup of tea or a glass of water instead.
2. Drink more water
Now, this is a bad habit many of us are guilty of – not drinking enough water! Experts suggest we need between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day. And the holidays are no exception. Did you know you are more likely to pig out on unhealthy treats when you are dehydrated?
3. Stick to regular meal times
This proves to be a little tricky during holidays as we don’t have to stick to our regular schedule of getting to bed early to wake up early for work. During the December holidays, we often tend to eat breakfast at noon and dinner just before sleeping. But not only will this leave you feeling tired and drained, it’s also a recipe for a slow metabolism.
The trick is to try and stick to 3 main meals a day, with two to three healthy snacks in between them. Now, we know this isn’t easy in the holidays, but as soon as you wake up, have a healthy and filling breakfast to get your day started the right way. Have a little snack mid-morning – some fruit and nut butter is a great idea – and follow on from these meals with a healthy lunch and dinner.
Expert tip: drink a glass of water before a meal to prevent you from overeating.
Do you know why breakfast is the most important meal of the day? It’s because when we eat when we wake up, this stops us from eating more than we should at lunch and dinner time. Don’t eat too late! It’s also important that you avoid late-night eating and snacking.
You need to eat about 2 hours before you get into bed. This is because your metabolism slows down when you are sleeping. Your metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories for energy. When you give your body enough time to digest your food before sleeping, this will reduce your risk of weight gain and give you a better night’s sleep.
4. Try to exercise as and when you can
Exercise is not only great for getting a strong and lean body, but it will also energise you and leave you feeling incredible! The holidays are often a time that we all get into a ‘sloth-like’ mode where we don’t want to do anything but stuff our faces and spend time with family.
Discover: 7 tips for a healthy summer body
But incorporating a bit of exercise into your day will help you feel happy and energised, allowing you to enjoy the holidays even more! Try to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. From a beach walk to yoga or even some soccer in the garden with your family!
5. Make sure your health is taken care of!
The last thing you want is to be stuck in bed with the flu while you’re on holiday. A great way to prevent this is through preventative healthcare measures such as a check-up with your doctor before going on holiday.
Unexpected doctor visits on holiday are no fun! And having to pay for them is even worse. This is where health insurance comes in. Health insurance is an affordable way to get instant access to private healthcare and ensure your health is always in the most capable hands.
If you have Oneplan Health Insurance, you can preload funds onto your Onecard before your doctor’s visit in as little as a minute! You can learn more about our health insurance plans here, or get a quick & easy online quote at this link.
Stay healthy and happy these holidays!
Your Health Insurance Family,
Oneplan
