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Happy Healthy Holidays Tips
The holidays are pulling up with loads of food! Yay! We love to enjoy our holiday feasts to the fullest. We also know that eating healthily is important for our overall health; which helps our immune systems and skin. And that is extremely important this season.
So, what can we eat at a Thanksgiving feast? Here are some suggestions to avoid any holiday guilt by blowing our diets and ruining our complexions.
Drink Up
No, not alcohol. It’s all about H20. Water is powerful. Staying super hydrated while you chow down on your favorite foods will help you stay in balance. Many holiday foods are high in sodium, such as turkey. When we’re having fun, we might forget to hydrate. Remind yourself to drink plenty of water! Use a phone notification, carry water in a bag, whatever it takes.
Turkey
Go for a pasture-raised or organic turkey. According to Medical News Today, “Pasture-raised turkeys typically have higher omega-3 content than factory-farmed turkeys.”
All turkey contains DHA (Omega-3 acids), plus other vitamins and minerals (Cobalamin or B-12, B-6, Potassium, Magnesium, Choline, Niacin, Selenium, and Zinc), but eating a cleaner product is always better. Dark meat typically contains more fat than white meat. This is why it's tastier. So, if anyone must eat the dark meat, leaving the skin off (which is extremely fatty) is a better choice.
Less Sauce
We love to pile on the trimmings, but it’s not all good. Cranberry sauce is usually high in sugar. Save some sugar room for dessert. Gravy is fine if it wasn’t made with an overwhelming amount of salt. Turkey is already extremely high in sodium. So, watch the salt.
As mentioned above, drinking water can help if a person is insistent upon overloading on the trimmings. Avoid canned cranberry sauce completely. It has numerous fillers and just doesn’t pack the flavor of a homemade sauce that someone has full control over.
Pick the Best Sides
No need to avoid those delicious sides altogether. Skip the bread in order to save room for all the other dishes.
Sweet potatoes are not the same as candied yams. I can devour the entire dish of yams, but they fill me up, leaving no wiggle room. Sweet potatoes are an excellent alternative. They are packed with natural sugar versus adding it into yams. After baking them, there’s a natural sweetness and glaze. Roasted sweet potatoes, squash or pumpkin are fire! If someone still wants yams, there are several healthier versions of candied yams online.
Green bean casserole is delish, but it usually has so much butter, fat, and salt, it’s not worth it. Steamed or baked green beans as a stand alone dish is perfect. Mashed potatoes are fine, as long as they're easy on the butter and salt. Macaroni and Cheese, come on. Do I need to say it?
Any dish with high cholesterol and sugar should be eaten in small bites–or not at all. Remember, there are no judgements, but when the temptation is too great... portion, portion, portion, and water.
Avoid Deli Meats and Crackers
Most deli meats are filled with sodium nitrates which are unhealthy by increasing the risk of cancer and heart disease. Nitrates react differently in vegetables than in meat. Consumer Reports explained, “Nitrates and nitrites prevent bacterial growth and give deli meat its distinctive color and flavor. But there’s a downside. Nitrates convert to nitrites, and when nitrites interact with protein, that creates compounds called nitrosamines—which may cause cancer.”
Crackers are there to fill us up. We’re already going to fill up, so why add more carbs to our plates?
Slow Wine
Of course, wine is a part of the holiday celebration or any day. Unfortunately, I’m allergic. Boo! For the lucky ones who can consume wine, take slow sips versus chugging bottles. Wine converts into sugar. We are already swallowing more than enough sugar on Thanksgiving. Cheers!
No Soda
Hi, Sparkling Water. Bye, Soda. We know the deal with soda. Just look at the nutritional facts. No nutrition, but heaps of sugar. Sparkling water flavored with natural fruit juice may not be as tasty and sweet. Yet, it’ll save us from getting that sugar crash.
Fruits and Veggies
Go for it. Fresh produce is always a winner when it comes to eating healthily. Thanksgiving tables often have glazed carrots. Don't be fooled! It's best to avoid those. Grab a salad on the way to the desserts.
Dessert
One slice of pie can be 300-600 calories! Ridiculous! Regardless, I don’t think any of us will be skipping dessert. Maybe grab one-half of a normal slice of two favorites. Drink a glass of water or, even, tea. Tea is known for encouraging healthy digestion and breaking down fat. It’s also good for our skin. 
Walk It Out
After all that grubbin’, go for a stroll. An after dinner walk always makes anyone feel better. It’ll help with breaking down the feast by speeding up metabolism. Walks are always healthy.
We don’t have to worry ourselves crazy at Thanksgiving. If someone else is cooking, don't be afraid to ask how they will prepare the food. We also don’t have to eat everything. There are always more leftovers than we can handle. Try freezing some dishes made from the leftovers to reduce food waste. Get some freezer-safe containers before the holidays to plan ahead.
The way we eat 100% affects our skin in the long run. Eating badly can cause breakouts, dull complexions, dehydration, and more. Continue taking supplements, including prebiotics and probiotics. Balance with water, portion-consciousness, and a skin care commitment.
Our skincare arsenal should pack a punch everyday and during the holidays. Rescue Skin serum, a moisturizer, a toner, and a thorough cleanser are all the basics anyone needs. Whatever anyone does, enjoy and be happy!
From Our Skin Care to Yours,
RxESCUESKIN