The Truth on Health

By Dr. Xifaras, MD – Tufts Medical Center

Happy Holidays!

With the holidays here, things can be pretty busy. Add on the extra holiday parties and staying active…and eating healthy can get tricky! Try not to let the holidays spoil all the hard work you have been doing. Instead see if you can find opportunities to fit in some exercise and try to make the healthy choice when eating.

Kids, here are some tips to get you through the season!

Shopping: If you are stuck going to the mall shopping with your parents, encourage them to park further from the entrance so you can get some extra walking in. Take the stairs rather than the escalator or elevator, and carry the bags for your parents (trust me, your parents will really appreciate this!). These small tasks can add up and give you a good work out. Also, pack some healthy snacks to take with you, such as nuts, fruit and water; and try to avoid the food court.

Holiday Parties: As tempting as those holiday treats can be, there are a lot of fun active games that can be played to keep you moving. Here are some examples –

1. Gift Relay – Place some wrapped empty boxes on a table across the room. The first person in each team must run and get a gift box and then run back and give it to his or her teammate. The teammate must carry that box and run to the table and get another gift box and then runs back with the 2 gift boxes and gives it to the third person. The third person has to carry both boxes while running to get another box. You keep doing this until all the boxes are gone. The team that gets all the boxes first wins.

2. Snowball Soccer – Place wrapping paper that has been crumpled up into balls on the floor. Designate two areas as goals. Try and get the balls of paper in the goals without using your hands.

3. Holiday Talent Show – Take turns acting out different holiday stories or songs using dance or charades. Have others see if they can guess what story or song you are doing.

4. Find the Hidden Treasure – Hide different items around the house and make clues that will lead the other kids to the treasure.

5. Snowball Toss – You don’t need snow for this game. To start, decorate a poster board and cut some large holes in it, then stand it up across the room. To make the “snowballs”, wrap up 3-5 marshmallows in a baggie or plastic wrap. Toss the “snowballs” at the board and see if you can get them in the holes. Each hole can be worth different points. The person who gets the most points wins.

All of these games can be played with your parents as well. See if you can get them playing so you can enjoy a happy healthy holiday together!

Athena Xifaras, MD – Tufts Medical Center
Click to read more about Athena

Tags: dr. xifaras, Holidays, Paul Pierce, Truth on Health