Tips for Having a Healthier Holiday Season

The holiday season is around the corner, and it is the one time of the year where most of us overindulge and eat and drink too much for our own good. My roommate and I start drinking on Christmas eve and don’t stop until the 5th of January, and this is one of our traditions that we’ve been perpetuating for 6 years now. However, this is not good, and you should drink responsibly, especially during this holiday season and if you are drinking, please don’t drive. So, without further ado, let’s learn some of the tips on how to stay healthy this holiday season.

Start your day well

We all know that the holiday season is one of the few times of the year, you get to meet all your friends and/or family in the same space, and this is the time that we eat and drink a lot because we don’t get to meet these people year-round. As mentioned earlier, it is the time of year that I drink a lot, and even though this is not good for my livers, it is something I do for fun and have been doing for years now. This is one of the main reasons why you should stay hydrated. On the day of and the day after a big night where you know you will eat and drink a lot, then make a conscious effort to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water. You can also have diluted juice and herbal tea if you can’t drink plain water. Because you will be drinking a lot, you will want to stay hydrated because of the diuretic effects of alcohol. Even the mildest dehydration can lead to a headache, and this is not fun on any day, especially the holiday season. So stay hydrated and have fun.

Eat a healthy breakfast.

So, if you know you are going out to eat with your friends in the evening, start your day with a healthy breakfast. Try starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal with fruits, as this will fill you up and will bring about much-needed fiber in your diet. Oatmeal will stabilize your blood sugar and will keep your appetite all day long. You can have a probiotic yogurt on the side to keep your immune system in check, and this, alongside the oatmeal, will promote digestive health. Remember, always line your stomach before you drink because this will mitigate the effect of alcohol and may prevent hangovers. They also help combat some of the less than wanted effect of the holiday season and is especially appreciated when you have little to no sleep and have been drinking all night. Also, include some healthy and well-timed snacks in your diet because you will be eating a lot of unhealthful food at night. Some people pre-game food before they go to a party, but we don’t do this in this house and believe that the holiday season is the time to wild out.

Prevent hangovers

We are tempted to skip meals during the holiday season because we don’t want to stockpile calories, but this is a bad decision, and you will most likely regret it the next day. Trust me on this one; I’m talking from experience here; going all night on an empty stomach and drinking a lot doesn’t do a body good and will make you wake up with a nasty hangover. Avoiding calories by avoiding food is a bad choice because, yes, alcohol does contain calories, but it doesn’t have enough nutrients to keep your body in check. If you want to avoid a hangover, try to pace yourself and have only one drink an hour. This will make you get drunk faster and is a sure way to get a hangover. I still can’t follow this advice, but this is a do what I say, not what I do kind of vibes.

This year because of Covid-19, my roommate and I are staying in our Manhattan condo again for 2 years in a row. We’ll have some of our friends over and will spend a cozy day and celebrate Christmas together. There will be a lot of drinks, but for me, if there is no alcohol, it is not the holiday season. Each of us will cook something and will have a redo of Friendsgiving because most of us were home for actual Thanksgiving. Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what your plans are for this holiday season.