Everyday Wellness

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The clock is ticking fast towards the holidays...a stressful time even for the most Zen of us. I've been thinking about this as I stand in line purchasing supplies for next week's Thanksgiving meal.  

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As fun as the holidays are, they also disrupt our routines. Our food choices, our exercise options, our ability to manage stress—all of this gets a true workout over the next six weeks.  

Great news, though: you already have the skills to manage it, beautifully! Let's break it down into each area:

QUIZ: Feeling Stressed?

Food

Can you already smell the turkey cooking, the butternut squash soup simmering, the stuffing baking...mmm?  It's so tempting to want to try everything, and maybe just a bit more.  After all, tomorrow's another day, right? Wrong!  Keep it simple; keep it smart:

1)    Use A Smaller Plate: Grab a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. This will help trick you into thinking you’re eating more, when we’re really eating less. And don’t graze!

MORE: Recipes to Eat Pretty This Holiday

2)    Load Your (Small) Plate With Color: From squash to greens beans, the most Thanksgiving tables are full of nutrient-packed fruits and vegetables. They’re fiber-packed and will help you feel fuller, faster, not to mention looking gorgeous on your plate.

3)    Snack! A healthy snack, that is! Scarf down a protein-packed bite before the big meal so you're not as hungry (think: a handful of almonds).

4)    Desert Dessert: Cut yourself just a sliver, or avoid all together (load up on those healthy veggies so you’re too full for it!). Sugary treats will cause your blood sugar to spike and then quickly plummet, making you hungrier again, quicker.