8 Simple Shifts to Have a Happier, Healthier Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and you may be feeling mixed emotions — excitement, anxiety, and everything in between. Whether you’re overwhelmed with all the food choices, worried about derailing your diet or stressed about family dynamics, we get it.
No matter how you’re feeling about the holiday season, your personal well-being comes first. That’s why today on the Vibrant Health blog, we’re sharing eight simple shifts you can make to have a happier, healthier Thanksgiving — from nourishing food choices to ways to protect your mental health.
8 Tips for a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season
- Eat a Nourishing Breakfast
- Move Your Body
- Incorporate Naturally Detoxifying Foods
- Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
- Eat What You Truly Want
- Be Mindful of Added Sugars
- Protect Your Mental Health
- Practice Gratitude
Healthy Holiday Shift # 1: Eat a Nourishing Morning Meal
Don’t fall for the trap of skipping breakfast in order to “save” calories, as it’s bound to backfire — leading to blood sugar spikes and pesky cravings! Instead, make yourself a healthy, nourishing morning meal that will help energize and fill you up until the big feast. Choose a healthy dish like oatmeal, a smoothie/smoothie bowl or a veggie egg scramble.
Looking for breakfast inspiration? Try this Gratitude Smoothie Bowl — featuring fall flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg along with our Joint Vibrance superfood supplement.
Healthy Holiday Shift #2: Move Your Body
You may be doing a lot of sitting around the table on Turkey Day, so be sure to squeeze in some form of exercise before the celebrations ensue. Consider signing up for a local Turkey Trot or going on your own hike or walk around the block with family and friends.
Healthy Holiday Shift #3: Incorporate Naturally Detoxifying Foods
Thanksgiving isn’t the day to go on a diet. Instead of cutting certain foods out, pile your plate high with naturally detoxifying foods like leafy greens, lemon, garlic, ginger, fresh fruit, and veggies.
Try our Vibrant Health Turkey Day Detox Smoothie — made with detoxifying ingredients like cherries, ginger, cranberries — to kickstart your day! Bonus: it includes a scoop of our Digestive Vibrance formula to support gut health.
Healthy Holiday Shift #4: Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
Between gravy, appetizers, and savory side dishes, you’ll likely be consuming more sodium than usual. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated. Be sure to start your day with a big glass of lemon water and drink water throughout the day. You can also opt for naturally hydrating water-packed foods such as cucumber, celery, and berries.
Healthy Holiday Shift #5: Eat What You Truly Want
Thanksgiving is meant for celebrating among family and friends, not fretting about your “diet.” Don’t spend the day counting calories or trying to avoid “bad" foods. Instead eat the foods you truly want, while listening to your body throughout the day. What are you in the mood for? Are you hungry or does your body feel full?
Healthy Holiday Shift #6: Be Mindful of Added Sugars
While we don’t believe in depriving yourself from the foods you truly want, you do want to be cautious of added sugars — which can sneak their way into condiments, baked goods, and holiday cocktails.
You can still enjoy your favorites, while making some mindful substitutions — such as skipping the whipped cream, opting for a glass of wine instead of the sugary signature cocktail or chosing just one slice of your favorite pie (and thoroughly enjoying it). Here are some practical tips to balance your sugar intake around the holidays!
Healthy Holiday Shift #7: Protect Your Mental Health
While physical health is crucial, it’s also important to take care of your mental health this holiday season. If family gatherings are triggering for you, set yourself up for success by creating a plan that works for you. This may include squeezing in a pre-gathering solo walk, practicing deep breathing or taking a break from the crowd to have a quiet moment for yourself.
And be sure to fill your own cup by prioritizing self-care throughout the holiday season. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Healthy Holiday Shift #8: Practice Gratitude
The holidays are a busy time of year and it can be easy to rush through the day, letting the little things get to you. Do your best to practice gratitude during the holiday season — pausing to reflect on all the blessings in your life. Try starting your day by writing down three things you are grateful for — big or small. Here are some simple ways to practice gratitude this Thanksgiving (and beyond)!
DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.
