By Zanab Jaffrey/reporter
Sugar cookies, pumpkin pie, stuffing and turkey — it’s that time again.
The holiday season is near, and with so many choices of high-calorie and high-sodium foods, healthy eating and a workout routine can sometimes get knocked down on the to-do list.
“I eat so much more during the holidays than I ever do the rest of the year,” TR student Cassidy Van Order said.
With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in consecutive months, the amount of candy, stuffing and pies, staples in most households this time of year, can cause a serious dent in one’s nutrition and workout regimen.
Van Order said she finds herself eating out of stress during the holidays.
“Having family in town is stressful,” she said. “You are working so hard to make sure everyone is happy and everything is perfect.”
With stress and a season centered around food, people may find little time to work out and an even harder time to make healthy choices. SE nutrition instructor Kim Wesley said students should stick to a workout routine throughout the year.
“Students should not deviate from their normal healthy habits during the holiday season,” she said.
Wesley, who is a big fan of running, says she stays in shape during this time of year by taking part in several of the runs offered during the season.
“I take my whole family (even my dog),” she said. “We have fun as a family and burn calories as well.”
NW wellness director Tori Pannell also enters her family in holiday races and says it makes her feel less guilty about indulging.
“It is something we can do as a family and still spend time together,” she said.
Pannell stresses portion sizes and eating slowly, allowing one to enjoy the food. She even has a helpful tip for students.
“Remember the three S’s,” she said. “Small, slow and steady: small portions, eat slow and pace yourself.”
While some may see this as another list of how not to enjoy this season, Pannell encourages students to enjoy their favorite holiday foods.
“There is more of a tendency to binge if you deprive or torture yourself,” she said.
These little eating adjustments and some indoor or outdoor exercise can yield big results this holiday season, Wesley and Pannell believe. Current students who don’t have a gym membership can access a campus gym by checking in with a form of I.D. and a current semester schedule.
Family stress and yummy food should not take away from the work done all year.
“Overall, if we watch our serving sizes, resist second helpings and have a reasonable-size plate, we should keep the extra calories at bay,” Wesley said.
