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Devine Fairytale

A Magical Lifestyle Blog and Theme Park Travel Expert

Categories: Winter

Holiday Party Survival Guide: Healthy Tips for Holiday Parties

brown acorn near clear long stem wine glass - healthy tips for holiday parties blog post image

Thanksgiving has passed and now we have all of the Christmas (and Hanukkah) parties ahead of us! If you’re trying to stay on track in your fitness journey or working on losing weight, this time of year can definitely make things difficult.  If it’s something that’s important to you though, there are ways to get through it and still stay on track with your goals with these healthy tips for holiday parties.

Healthy Tips for Holiday Parties

1. Drink a LOT of water!  Did you know that you are supposed to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day? So, if you weigh 140 pounds, that’s 70 ounces of water every day.  Are you doing that?! Staying hydrated has so many benefits, including increasing your metabolic rate. It also keeps you feeling full and helps to ward off feeling like you need (or want) an unhealthy snack. I try to drink several ounces of water before heading out to a party and stick to it while I’m there.

2. You usually don’t know what temptations will be at these parties and if you are hungry, you are more likely to give in.  Fill yourself up with something healthy before you go!  Plan your meals strategically.  If I have a party to attend at night, I will eat some egg whites for breakfast instead of my usual shake.  I’ll eat a nutritious lunch and then make my shake to have while I’m getting ready and on the way to the party.  When I get there, I’m full and less tempted by all of the sweets!  I will use my best judgement if I want to have a bite to eat.

3. Try out some fun holiday protein shake recipes! Want to try my favorite? It’s Chocolate Peppermint! One serving of chocolate protein powder mixed with water and a little bit of almond milk, add a splash of pure peppermint extract and some ice to blend. Tip: don’t use too much peppermint! It’s better to start with a little bit and add more if needed. You can even add coffee to make a healthier version of Starbucks’ Peppermint Mocha.

4. Eat something before you leave the house. You’ll be less likely to eat a bunch of sweets if you are full from a healthy meal or snack ahead of time.

5. You can always offer to bring a dish or a snack to the party. By doing this, you have the ability to make it something healthy and you will know there is something for you to eat that fits your meal plan and aligns with your goals.

6. Try to avoid drinking your calories. Most cocktail mixers are full of sugar. If you’re planning to enjoy some alcoholic beverages, opt for something like a vodka soda with fresh squeezed limes.

7. If you do have some extra sweets or just overeat in general, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just be sure that one night doesn’t turn into a whole month of falling off track. Enjoy what you ate and then move on.  Jump right back in to your healthy meal plan and don’t give up.

What are some other ways you stay on track with your health and wellness goals with all of the holiday fun?

Categories: Seasonal, Winter

Create Your Holiday Bucket List

It’s no secret that this is my favorite time of the year. I thought it would be fun to put together a Holiday Bucket List to check off during this season. Hopefully this can give you some fun, new ideas!

Use these idea to fill in the month of December with some of these ideas and create some extra special memories with your family and friends. If you love a good visual, print out the checklist image below and put it up on your refrigerator, a bulletin board, or you can even add it to a frame and use a dry erase marker to check items off the list.

holiday bucket list flat lay pink background with pink ornaments and silver star confetti

What is a Holiday Bucket List?

A holiday bucket list is a compilation of items that you put together for yourself or your family to enjoy during the holiday season. Traditions, adventures, things to eat…it’s all up to you to fill up your holiday bucket list with things you love! Need some idea? Keep reading!

Holiday Bucket List Ideas

  • Visit a Christmas Tree Farm: Just outside of Tallahassee, there is a sweet little Christmas Tree Farm in Havana, Florida.  There are rows and rows of trees and it is just so pretty! Take a look and see if there is one near you that you can visit.

  • Hot Cocoa Bar: This is a lot of fun and always a favorite of ours! Get out all kinds of toppings to make whatever fun hot cocoa creations you can come up with. Here is a blog post to give you some ideas for your own hot cocoa bar.

  • Christmas Movie Night: Is there really anything better than a Christmas movie full of magic? Cozy up with a blanket and your favorite holiday snack and enjoy your favorite holiday movie.

  • Decorate the Tree: Add a family night to your calendar to get out all of your decorations and make your Christmas tree shine together.

  • Make a Holiday Playlist: Here is a Spotify playlist full of some of my favorites you can use to get started!

  • Drive Around to Look at Christmas Lights: Some people really go all out and we love to drive around different neighborhoods to see the lights. We also love to visit Dorothy B. Oven Park in Tallahassee to see their incredible set up!

  • Bake Cookies: Does your family have a special cookie recipe for the holidays? Or decorate some sugar cookies with royal icing and sprinkles and enjoy them together!

  • Christmas Craft Night: Pick a night and come up with a few fun and easy crafts that the whole family can make together.

  • Build a Gingerbread House: A classic holiday tradition. If you have enough people, you could even turn this into a contest to pick a winner.

  • Get New Christmas PJs: We love Christmas pjs over here and look for a new pair each year. Perfect for wearing Christmas morning, or all season long.

  • Donate to a Local Organization: Not everyone in our community is able to enjoy this time of year. Give back in a way that can do good for someone else. Look for toy drives in your area, donate items and you can even volunteer your time to a food bank like Second Harvest, or donate items to a women’s shelter for those that need them.

  • Pick Out a New Ornament: A wonderful tradition to start, if you haven’t already, is collecting a special new ornament each year. Maybe it’s from a trip you took or something that reminds you of a special memory. These ornaments add special touches to your tree!

  • Send Christmas Cards: Pick a favorite photo from the year and print some Christmas cards to send to your loved ones. If you’re not looking to print out cards, you could even write a few sweet notes to some family or friends you haven’t been able to see in awhile.

  • Get Cozy by the Fire: Drink some hot cider, read a good book, or even just take some time to enjoy peace and quiet.

  • Surprise Someone with a Gift or a Treat: Do something nice for someone. Give a little gift to a neighbor or leave out some snacks and water for your delivery drivers during the busiest time of year.

  • Kiss Under the Mistletoe: The ultimate romantic holiday tradition.

Holiday Bucket List Checklist

Devine Fairytale Holiday Bucket List

We also include a Disney trip to see the holiday decorations and eat all of the treats on our list!

I would love to hear what items are on your Holiday Bucket List. Please share them in the comments below. I love hearing about new traditions and fun adventures!

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