HEALTH & WELLNESS
Second helpings:
Happy – and healthy – holidays
Maintaining a healthy weight (and trying not HEALTHY LIVING TIPS FROM you’ll wait for something that’s worth the indulgence and savor every bite of those delicious holito gain weight!) during the holiday season can be
day treats.
challenging. Holiday parties and family gatherings
• Save the best for last! Being mindful of what
present special challenges when it comes to eating
you’re eating during the holidays doesn’t mean you
right, often threatening to railroad your best-intentioned plans. A
have to deprive yourself of holiday goodies—just save
realistic goal for this time of year is to savor the holiday moments,
them for last. Eat healthy salads, fruits and crunchy vegbut not give yourself an opportunity to regret overindulging after
etables first.
the season has passed.
• If you have an exercise schedule, don’t throw it out the
With just a little planning, you can still enjoy goodies and parwindow during the busy holiday season. With stressors
ties, without worrying about gaining weight or the toll it takes on
in abundance, emotional eating—bingeing on unhealthy
your heart. And you’ll be doing yourself a favor by setting your
foods—can derail even your best intentions. But did you
goal on weight maintenance, while still savoring great-tasting
know that exercise can be an extremely effective stress refoods. Try these tested tips to help keep you on track during holliever? To decrease your stress and improve your outlook,
iday celebrations.
take the stairs instead of the elevator or park a little farther
• Grab a healthy snack to eat before leaving home. This refrom your destination to add more steps in your day. Also
duces your risk of overeating at the party.
step up the pace while you’re shopping, and plan ahead
• Take control! Have a plan before you enter the room; check
to stroll around the block after that wonderful dinner—or
out the buffet foods or salad bar first, then look around,
even before it!
deciding what (and how much) you’ll eat.
Remember: Every good thing you do for your health—each
• Be aware of your portions. If you really want to have somehealthier choice you make in the moment—adds up to a better
thing that offers little nutritional value, do it—just limit
quality of life!
your intake of it! You can have a half-cup of eggnog or a
dollop of rich gravy, for example, and still savor all the deFor an appointment with a Deborah specialist or for more information
licious flavors.
about how Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge technologies
• Be aware of mindless eating. Don’t squander precious calcan improve your quality of life, call 800-555-1990 (option 4),
or visit
ories on something stale, store-bought or so-so during a
www.demanddeborah.org.option 4, or request info/an appointment by
visiting www.demanddeborah.org.
coffee break or meeting. Make a promise to yourself that
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ DECEMBER 2016