During the holidays, you and your loved ones deserve to take a break from the stresses of everyday life and celebrate another year together. However, this doesn’t mean you should stop being concerned with health care; now is the time to treasure and give thanks for your well-being. While you don’t have to refrain from every slice of pumpkin pie or glass of eggnog, you should center yourself on the motto: maintain, don’t gain. Use the following tips to sustain your health instead of adding to your waistline.

3 Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

1. Stay Hydrated

Plenty of times, when you’re feeling hungry, you might not need more caloric intake at all—you might simply be dehydrated. It’s especially easy to get less water during the winter months, when the heat and sunlight aren’t encouraging you to reach for a glass. To maintain your current health and avoid overeating, make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. If you’re drinking alcohol, take a break between each beverage to drink a full glass of water.

2. Eat a Protein-Rich Snack Before an Event

When you head to an office holiday party or over to your aunt’s house, you might be greeted by a spread of snacks—from cheese and crackers to cookies and candy canes. If you arrive on an empty stomach, you’ll fill up on empty calories, which won’t provide your body with long-lasting energy.

This will leave you vulnerable to drops in your blood sugar level and additional unhealthy eating. Instead, give your body a sturdy foundation be enjoying a salad with steak or a white-meat chicken sandwich. Once your blood sugar has stabilized and you feel pleasantly full, you can enjoy some holiday treats or alcohol in moderation.

3. Prioritizing Food Safety

Of course, health care isn’t just about staying at a certain weight; it’s also about avoiding illness. While delicious, homemade meals may have a higher risk of being improperly prepared, such as when raw meat is undercooked and retains bacteria.

Also, when an abundance of food is made, it might not all fit in the fridge or freezer and could expire if left out for more than a few hours. To be safe, avoid eating leftovers unless you know they were refrigerated within two hours of being made. Otherwise, you could end up with a nasty stomach bug.

If you’re looking for a health care provider during the holiday season, turn to Bayside Community Hospital of Anahuac, TX. They have over 60 years of experience offering inpatient and outpatient services. Whether you drank some spoiled eggnog or slipped on an icy pathway, you can count on this hospital and health clinic to provide the care you need. To learn more about their health care services, visit the website. You can also call (409) 267-3143 to speak with a staff member.