Healthy Through Christmas

Welcome into your healthy holiday season!

The holiday season is upon us! It is the time for celebration and joy! It is also a bit of a challenge to stick to our health goals and not undo all of the fitness and health progress we've made through the year. Unless we are mindful and ready, Christmas could turn into a time when our health takes a back seat and we slide into unhealthy habits. Let's not do it!

In this post and Naiya's Healthy Through Christmas Journey we will provide some tips & tricks on how to stay healthy during the holidays while still creating the most memorable and enjoyable experiences.

It helps to plan for your Christmas day ahead of time and be o.k. with going over our calorie budget as long as we are eating healthy foods that will not lead to bad consequences down the road. If you're into cheat days, Christmas is a great opportunity to use one of those cheat days. But we suggest not to engage into cheat days in general. It is better to stay healthy and not cheat yourself out of health.

Here are five tips for staying healthy and avoiding overeating during the Christmas day:

1. Priming is power. First and foremost, prime yourself in the morning and through the day to remind yourself of all the benefits of staying on track with your health & fitness journey. Nothing tastes as good as fitness & health feels.
2. Don't skip meals. It can be tempting to skip meals in anticipation of a big holiday feast, but this a recipe for overeating and messing up the good habits. Don't do it. Also don't arrive at the holiday's hungry.
3. Stay hydrated. Hydration will help you avoid overindulging at the party and it also helps you keep the healthy routine.
4. Burn calories. It is easy to find joy in outdoor activities with your friends and family before the Christmas dinner. Use the opportunity to have fun while burning calories and creating lasting memories.
5. Celebrate with Naiya! Naiya is your guide on a wellness journey. Why not showcase it to your friends and family and at the same time remind yourself of your goals and vision for the most healthy, joyful, fit and successful you! 

Christmas Day Meal Plan

A healthy and balanced meal plan for one day during the Christmas season could include the following

• Breakfast: Overnight oats with chia seeds, almond milk, berries, cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Highly filling, magical and satisfying way to start your Christmas.
• Lunch: Mixed greens salad with roasted chicken, quinoa, and avocado
• Snack: Skip the snacks and drink a lot of water with lemon or apple cider vinegar to stay hydrated.
• Dinner: Healthy & Joyful Christmas dinner with plenty of vegetables and plenty of fun with your family and loved ones.

This meal plan provides a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to keep you feeling satisfied and energized throughout the day and helps you get to the holiday dinner table in the best shape on the Christmas day.

But Christmas day is just a part of the game. You really need to pay attention to the whole holiday season and avoid some common traps. So let's look into some common foods that you need to avoid and some of the most interesting and creative ways to enjoy the inevitable desserts. Also, we want to arm you with a few ideas for healthy and creative holiday gifts that will allow you to show up at various parties and events prepared to be the most welcome of guests.

Ten foods that you may want to avoid during the Christmas:

1. Regular Eggnog (Checkout our healthy alternative instead!): This creamy holiday drink is often high in calories and sugar.
2. Cookies and other baked goods: Many Christmas cookies and treats are loaded with sugar, butter, and other unhealthy ingredients.
3. Candy canes: These peppermint-flavored treats are high in sugar and offer little nutritional value.
4. Fruitcake: This dense and sweet cake is often loaded with sugar, dried fruit, and candied nuts.
5. Ham: While ham can be a tasty option, it is often high in sodium and can be unhealthy if eaten in large quantities.
6. Gravy: Gravy is typically made with flour and butter, making it high in calories and fat.
7. Mashed potatoes: While mashed potatoes can be a delicious side dish, they are often made with butter, milk, and other high-fat ingredients.
8. Stuffing: Stuffing is often made with white bread, butter, and sausage, making it high in calories and saturated fat.
9. Alcohol: Consuming too much alcohol can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
10. Cheese platters: While cheese can be a healthy choice in moderation, cheese platters often include a variety of high-fat cheeses that can be unhealthy if eaten in large quantities.

Here are five healthy and delicious Christmas dessert ideas:

1. Cranberry-orange oat bars: These bars are made with rolled oats, dried cranberries, and orange zest for a tasty and wholesome treat.
2. Dark chocolate peppermint bark: This classic Christmas dessert is made with dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants, and crushed peppermint candies for a refreshing flavor.
3. Pomegranate gingerbread trifle: This trifle is made with layers of gingerbread, yogurt, and pomegranate seeds for a festive and flavorful dessert.
4. Eggnog smoothie: This smoothie is made with eggnog, banana, and a dash of nutmeg for a creamy and satisfying treat.
5. Cinnamon apple crisp: This crisp is made with sliced apples, cinnamon, and a topping of oats and nuts for a healthy and delicious dessert.

Healthy Christmas gift ideas

1. Dried fruits and nuts basket is our absolute favorite: It is colorful, healthy, joyful and fun. You can enjoy it right there and there is a flavor for everyone.
2. Fitness Snack Gift Box: this gift box packages amazing artisan granola with six unique recipes and a wonderful display box that make for a truly memorable gift.
3. An artisan tea collection: we absolutely love giving people the gift of tea! This gift is not expensive, but it always brings joy to those who receive it.
4. A unique and magical cookbook: Choose a cookbook that focuses on healthy and delicious recipes, yet extremely unique recipes.
5. A blooming tea set: watching the tea bloom in a beautiful kettle is one of the most joyful and wonderful experiences we can think of. It is hard to count how many times we gifted this tea set and every time it led to lasting memories of us sitting together with our friends and enjoying the magical experience of watching the bloom before enjoying healthy and delicious tea.
6. A gift of Naiya! Please share Naiya with your loved ones and bring the power of health and wellness to your friends and family.

Healthy Eggnog recipe

Here is a delicious and healthy eggnog recipe that is lower in calories and fat than traditional versions:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In a blender, combine the almond milk, egg, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, honey, and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and well combined.
2. Pour the eggnog into glasses and serve immediately. You can also chill the eggnog in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving, if desired.

This eggnog recipe uses almond milk and honey as a sweetener, instead of heavy cream and sugar, making it lower in calories and fat. It also includes a variety of spices to add flavor and warmth. Enjoy this healthy eggnog as a festive and delicious holiday treat.

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