Christmas / en How to survive the holidays: advice from 91³Ô¹Ï experts /news/how-survive-holidays-advice-u-t-experts <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How to survive the holidays: advice from 91³Ô¹Ï experts</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-09-christmas-1812881_1920.jpg?h=8c4bd285&amp;itok=DAbLsHC5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-12-09-christmas-1812881_1920.jpg?h=8c4bd285&amp;itok=rFwk7UYT 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-12-09-christmas-1812881_1920.jpg?h=8c4bd285&amp;itok=oZz3Tqrg 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-09-christmas-1812881_1920.jpg?h=8c4bd285&amp;itok=DAbLsHC5" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-12-18T17:29:32-05:00" title="Sunday, December 18, 2016 - 17:29" class="datetime">Sun, 12/18/2016 - 17:29</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/dan-haves" hreflang="en">Dan Haves</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Dan Haves</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/christmas" hreflang="en">Christmas</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/holidays" hreflang="en">Holidays</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>While the holiday season can be an exciting time to reconnect with friends and family, it can also cause stress and make healthy eating difficult.</p> <p>91³Ô¹Ï Faculty of Medicine's <strong>Mel Borins</strong>, associate professor in the department of family and community medicine, and <strong>John Sievenpiper</strong>, an associate professor in the department of nutritional sciences, have some tips on how to enjoy the holiday season in a happy and healthy way.</p> <h3><strong>Beat the Stress</strong></h3> <p><strong>1. Make time</strong><br> The holidays can be hectic. Book something each day that is fun and preserve the time no matter what.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>2. Look for the positive</strong><br> Connect with positive people who are uplifting to be with. Phone them, Skype with them, or better yet, see them in person!<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>3. Ha, Ha, Ha!</strong><br> Laugh for no reason. If you’re finding the holiday stress is overwhelming, just laugh. Physiologically your body will not know the difference.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>4. Meditate</strong><br> Take 20 minutes each day to sit quietly, get into a relaxed state and do a body scan and internal brain scan to find out where your head is at.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>5. Exercise</strong><br> Amid&nbsp;the hustle and bustle of the holidays it can be easy to miss out on exercise. Go for a winter stroll.&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Keep&nbsp;Healthy Habits</strong></h3> <p><strong>1. Pace yourself</strong><br> Tell yourself sweets are everywhere, and if you want more than a couple of cookies, or a brownie or a piece of pie, there’s always tomorrow.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>2. Plan ahead</strong><br> If you’re going to a holiday party, eat a healthy balanced meal before you arrive so that you don’t arrive hungry, and you can limit yourself to just one treat.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>3. Cut the starch</strong><br> Often people consume more refined starches like bread, potatoes&nbsp;and rice to fill themselves up. Put less of these on your plate, and take more vegetables –&nbsp;an easy way to achieve portion control.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>4. Flip the script</strong><br> Stop thinking about all the food you can’t eat and start thinking about the whole foods you can eat and enjoy.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>5. Make trade-offs</strong><br> Delicious treats are an important part of the holidays, and you should savour every bite. But make trade-offs. Would you rather invest your discretionary calories in a really nice dessert and skip the alcohol?</p> <p><br> We hope these tips help you enjoy this holiday season while maintaining a healthy body and mind.</p> <p><em>Dr. Borins is a family physician and associate professor in the department of family and community medicine and author of the book <a href="/news/doctors-take-alternative-medicine">A Doctor’s Guide to Alternative Medicine: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why</a>. Dr. Sievenpiper is an associate professor in the department of nutritional sciences, a staff physician and a scientist in Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital. Read more tips from Dr. Sievenpiper on <a href="https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2015/12/07/when-it-comes-to-sugar-there-are-no-free-nutritional-passes.html">healthy eating during the holidays</a>.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:29:32 +0000 ullahnor 102736 at