Holiday Health: How to Stay Healthy and Happy Over the Holidays

It's known as the silly season – and with very good reason. All those Christmas parties, the food, the drinks, the wine. Lots of wine! Not to mention the chocolate. Undercooked turkeys, Christmas lights and candles left unattended and arguments with the family are just some of the health and safety hazards you might have to face this Christmas, so how do you cope? Learn how to navigate the office party, Christmas dinner and your relatives with our how to guide.

Make the Right Choices at Parties

The sheer excess of alcohol throughout Christmas and New Years means that hangovers are very common – but so are alcohol-related falls, bumps and scrapes. The easiest way to keep your cool at Christmas parties is to drink one soft drink or glass of water in between every glass of alcohol. One glass of wine, one glass of water and so on – this helps to slow down your consumption and will also minimize your hangover, as it'll help to keep you hydrated throughout the night. Another tip is to stick to one type of drink, preferably a lighter, clear liquid, as these tend to be more pure with less chemical by-products – which means that your hangover will be far less severe.

If you're not having a party at home, make sure that you sort out transport. Follow state guidelines for drinking and driving and remember – the laws against drink driving are not in place to be a nuisance. They're there to save lives.

The Morning After the Night Before

If you've had a long night at a party it can be tempting to tuck into a big, greasy breakfast the morning after so that you don't have to spend time cooking. But you'd be better off making yourself something to eat – all of that fat, along with the calories you consumed from the alcohol, could add up to a weight gain.

Read More: Top 10 Ways To Stay Healthy And Fit During The Holiday Season

Food lacking in nutrients will also make you feel slow and sluggish, at a time when your body needs nutrients more than ever in order to detoxify.

Instead, cook something like a large veggie packed frittata or a simple spicy kedgeree - anything spicy should help to wake you up. If you can't face cooking, a store-bought smoothie is better than nothing at all – choose a variety with plenty of whole fruits that contains at least 2 of your 5 a day in one portion for the most benefits. The idea is to get as many nutrients into your body as possible to make up for the nutrients lost through the alcohol - so try to rehydrate and up your vitamin intake with fresh, healthy food - even a banana or an orange will go some way in helping your hangover.

Tuck In!

Without a doubt, the Christmas dinner is our favorite part of Christmas – tender turkey, crisp and fluffy roast potatoes and a selection of yummy veggies, as well as delicious meaty gravy and fruity Christmas pud. But as we mentioned in our How to Indulge (Without Having to Bulge) Over Christmas article, one Christmas dinner alone can contain over 2500 calories – one day's worth of calories in just one meal. Tucking into too much Christmas dinner could add up to a large weight gain – but if it isn't cooked properly, you could also end up with a nasty case of food poisoning. If cooking a frozen turkey, make sure that it is thoroughly defrosted with no ice crystals before cooking it. Cook from room temperature until there is absolutely no trace of pink in the cooking juices. Think about steaming veggies – it's quick and easy, or pre-prepare dishes so that all you have to do on Christmas Day is heat them up again. Preparation is really useful, as it means that you don't have to worry about veggies catching and burning. When reheating, ensure that the food is piping hot before serving. It's also worth mentioning that you should be really careful when handling hot fat – burns are very common at Christmastime!

Stress Less

It's common to regress a little bit at Christmas – especially when you're going back to your childhood home with your siblings for the holidays. You might find yourself slipping back into your old teenage argumentative ways, arguing with your parents or fighting with your siblings. To cope, remember that although you're back in your childhood home, it does not mean that you need to behave like a child. Try to see things from your parent's point of view, especially if you're being a bit lazy and lounging around in bed. Take time to help out and if your siblings try to start fights, don't rise to the bait. You don't have to slip back into your old self just because it's Christmas.

Also, if you're feeling worried that you're going to be lonely this Christmas, get in touch with a local charity. The help is out there for everyone – you just have to ask for it. You don't have to be alone!

Read More: How To Take It Easy And Survive Holiday Stress

Sit Back and Relax

If you find Christmastime stressful rather than relaxing, make an effort to spend at least half an hour each day sitting back and taking a little time for yourself - even if it's when everyone else has gone to bed! Do something that you love and that makes you feel relaxed, such as read a book, sip a glass of wine or watch a silly sitcom. Taking that time for yourself is a really useful way of de-stressing – and it'll make you feel much better when your house is like a zoo, full of children and noise!

Christmas is all about spending time with your family – so follow the tips above to stay healthy and happy whilst spending time with the people that matter.