How to thrive throughout the Holidays

This holiday season is bound to be filled with family, fun and oh yes--temptations! There is nothing more challenging than eating well when tradition and family have something else on the menu. Whether you're in the middle of a Discover Optimal Wellness program, or just looking to get started, these tips will help with your holiday well-being.

• Filtered water: make this your beverage of choice, and drink plenty of water between meals. You can spice it up with a lemon or citrus fruit slice, or drink your water hot with a cinnamon stick to keep it festive.
• Volunteer to do the grocery shopping: many family recipes are unhealthy only because the ingredients are highly processed. There's a big difference between mashed potatoes from a box versus organic potatoes mashed with olive oil and fresh herbs. Look for ingredients that are whole, raw and organic, as much as possible.
  
• Substitute creativity for sugar and sodium: with fresh, whole ingredients on hand, you're on the path to a tasty T-day. Now you can look at each recipe and substitute healthier options. For any sweet dishes substitute stevia or Truvia, apples and cinnamon for sugar, and reduce the sweet-load in half or more. Our taste buds are overloaded with sugar and sodium during the holidays. Give your family a delicious surprise!
• Give back: one of the dangers of holiday dining is the leftovers. Splurging once can have harmful effects for some of us, but continuing to snack on the leftovers just makes matters worse! Take the family to a local church or senior center that is hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner, and volunteer to cook and serve those in need. Helping the truly hungry is a great way to minimize those excuses we may be carrying around, inhibiting our optimal wellness!
• Create new traditions: sure, we want to be respectful of Grandpa and Grandma's traditions, but in your own home you can start a new way of eating during the holidays. Having a potluck at your home? Challenge guests to bring an old recipe with a new, healthy twist to it. Or encourage guests to try a gluten-free or no-sugar recipe. It will be fun to hear stories of your dinner guests' kitchen trials!
  
• Change the focus: we don't have to make holidays all about food! Add a "walk around the neighborhood" into your holiday traditions, or even a yoga session! The holidays don't have to be about feeling bloated and tired! Rather than focusing on the menu, prepare a list of things you are thankful for--ingredients for your happiness! As you're working to Discover Optimal Wellness, list what you DO have in your health. What IS working? We want to hear about it!

Share your recipe finds, tradition ideas, and ingredients of life you're thankful for below! :)