The Healthy4Life 12 days to a healthier Christmas: Day nine

Our ‘Healthy4Life’ programme helps families across North Tyneside and the title speaks for itself – being healthy is a life-long commitment. Being healthy for one day isn’t going to change your life, the same as having the occasional treat won’t ruin all of your hard work!

So, to turn the ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ phrase on its head, being healthy is for life, and isn’t to be forgotten at Christmas!

As always, we’re here to help! The Healthy4Life team has created a 12 day guide to a more active and healthy Christmas – with lots of festive fun for the family…

Day nine

Healthy holiday ideas

Christmas can be a time for great relaxation and recovery from busy lives, but it’s important to keep up some heathy habits throughout the festive period.

These simple tips can ensure we keep moving, stay hydrated and continue to get those much-needed immune system boosting fruits and vegetables!

• Go for a walk in the fresh air or play some games in between mealtimes – this can help with food digestion and be an all-round great addition to your overall wellbeing – the dog may want some playtime too!

• There can be lots of snacks around the house which can be very easy to take handfuls of mindlessly – be aware of the high calories and salt content in things like nuts and party mixes

• Roast dinners are a Christmas staple and luckily these can be packed with nutritious delights like carrots, parsnips, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and turnip – put plenty of these on your dinner plate to help get you to your 5 a day!

• Have a glass of water with every meal and in between mealtimes too – staying hydrated can improve wellbeing and boost circulation

• Food swaps can be small but helpful – for example swapping cooking oils to lighter options can save calories and reduce overall fat amounts in a meal