The holidays are just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to bond with your friends, family members, and loved ones. It is also the right time to enjoy your favorite foods.

But for most people, the holidays are also the most dreaded time of the year as they usually gain a few pounds with all the feasts they have to attend to. It’s not surprising that gym membership usually increases after the holiday season.  And there’s the risk of food borne illnesses during the holidays. Young children, older adults, and pregnant women are particularly at high risks of food -borne illnesses such as food poisoning.

Here are some tips on how to keep your food safe and healthy during the holidays:

Food Safety

• Remember to clean your utensil, hands, and work surfaces using hot soapy water. Always do this throughout your food preparation to ensure that bacteria won’t be spread around.
• Separate raw meat and poultry from other foods. Use a separate cutting board for meats, and fruits and vegetables.
• Using a food thermometer, ensure that you cook poultry like chicken and turkey at an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• When transporting food, make sure that it is cooked completely. Never transport partially cooked foods.
• Upon arriving at your destination, reheat hot foods to 165 degrees F, and to boiling temperature for liquids.
• Refrigerate leftover food in shallow containers two hours after serving.

Eat Healthily

If you’re dreading the holiday season because you don’t want to punish yourself in your fitness classes nor do a lot of weight training exercises come January, you should follow these tips:

• Take hot soup, especially broth-based, as your first course. This would help you avoid eating too much during the main meal.
• Avoid eating munchies like nuts or chips.
• Concentrate on your food while you are eating it. Chew it well, and enjoy the texture and taste of each item.
• Weigh yourself every morning, so you’ll know how much food you should be eating for the day. Stepping on the scale every day would give you an idea when to start a diet, or perhaps undertake weight training for weight loss .
• Eat a healthy breakfast. Then cut down on your food intake for lunch and dinner.
• Minimize the number of high calorie foods you take. Instead, fill your plate with low calorie items like vegetable dishes, leafy green salads, and lean proteins.
• Pop a sugar-free mint to prevent yourself from having snacks in between meals.
• Before splurging, do something healthy. Perform weight training workouts in the morning or attend kickboxing classes first. Or even climb a few flights of stairs, or walk around the office for a few minutes.
• Continue working out or attending to your personal training programs even during the holidays to avoid gaining weight.

 

By following the tips above, you can be assured that you will avoid getting sick or gaining weight during the festive holiday season.