Delight, stress and a smorgasbord of sweet treats often characterize the month of December. But feeling festive is about much more than what foods will be a part of the holiday meals. We can eat, drink and be merry — while also staying consistent with the habits that have helped to improve our physical and mental health this year.
A little extra encouragement can be helpful, too. Therefore, as our gift to you, several of the staff at TOPS Headquarters decided to share how we put a health-forward spin on the holiday season:
- “If I’m spending a long weekend with family, I like to set aside time to go for a walk at a nearby park. It’s nice to bundle up and head outdoors with family (and pets if you or a family member has one). It’s also a good way to inspire yourself to shake up your routine and try something different during the winter months ahead.” ~Nikki Brahm, Communications Specialist
- “Be kind to yourself and others. ‘Kind,’ in this instance, meaning be gentle and loving.” ~Barry Gantenbein, Publisher of TOPS News
- “Take a moment each day to appreciate the little things; these positive things can have a big impact on your well-being.” ~Kim Hogan, Executive Assistant
- “I try to keep my plate balanced and take a small amount of things so I can have more of them rather than normal sizes of items to avoid overeating. I heard somewhere once that you only taste the first three bites of each item. Which is why I try to take about three bites of everything. This allows me to enjoy them all in realistic amounts.” ~Katelyn Peters, Executive Director
- “One more thing I also try to do all the time, but especially during the holidays, is to always park furthest away from entrance doors in a parking lot so that I can get extra steps in!” ~Katelyn Peters, Executive Director
- “Bundle up and get outside. This can look like a brisk walk before a meal or even just standing outside and practicing three minutes of deep breathing before your in-laws arrive. You may need to invest in some light winter gear, like thermal layers or ice cleats that attach to winter boots, but the benefits of outdoor time will be worth it. ~Maggie Thorison, Freelance Content Writer & Strategist
- “I enjoy taking the lead on menu planning and meal prep, no matter whether the guest list is three people or 20. It is important to me that everyone present be able to have a delish dining experience (myself included) without having to worry about having to forego eating most of the food served because of allergies, dietary preferences or other wellness needs. Now, the best part is, when I need culinary inspiration to round out the spread, I simply peruse the recipe demos featured on the TOPS YouTube channel!” ~Rachel Werner, Nutrition & Fitness Editor
- “One thing I always try to do is stay on top of my water the day before, the day of and the day after Christmas. It helps me feel more balanced, keeps my energy up and keeps me from mistaking thirst for hunger when all the treats are around.” ~Lexi Wojcik-Kretchmer, Communications Specialist
- “My family does White Elephant exchanges, and I like to make one of the two gifts we bring both fun and useful. I’ve done things like a water bottle with hydration packets, roller balls for stretching, a mug and tea set, a journal with my favorite pens and other gifts along those lines. I still keep it fun (for example, the mug and journal I picked were both funny). But it’s a good way to pair something that people will actually use with the added benefit of supporting their wellness.” ~Lexi Wojcik-Kretchmer, Communications Specialist
Have a healthy holiday tip you would like to add to this list? Drop it in the comments below.
And may we all have a happy and healthy end to 2025 — and beginning to the new year! ~Rachel
