‘Tis the season for travel, and many families may find themselves on the road or in the airport as they head out on vacation for the holiday season. However, many families are also going or staying home for the holidays. If your family is staying home or hosting loved ones during the winter, find ways to create healthy, budget-friendly memories.
Staying at home instead of traveling during the holidays can be just as fun as taking a trip, without the extra costs and added stress. From budget-friendly meals to healthy seasonal fun to homemade gifts, there are plenty of ways to make sure your holidays are happy. Here are some ideas to help you have fun and stay healthy while you’re home for the season
Build a budget-friendly holiday grocery list.
Before heading to the grocery store, take the time to plan out meals for the week and make a shopping list so you know what you need to buy. You could even plan meals around buying fresh, in-season produce or deals and coupons that your grocery store has each week. Once you get to the store, it may be helpful to buy items in bulk if you’ll be hosting a larger group of people for the holidays. You may also want to consider lower-cost protein alternatives like beans and lentils. Choosing store brands can help you save money, too, but sticking to your list should help you get everything you need.
Focus on healthy, homemade holiday gifts.
As you look to spread Christmas cheer, consider carving out time to make healthy gifts for your loved ones. Coupon books with passes for activities or hot chocolate kits are classic gifts. You can also make blood sugar-friendly and heart healthy sweet treats for loved ones using recipes from the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. If your family members or friends have additional dietary restrictions, feel free to swap out ingredients in these recipes as needed. Spending time creating special gifts for family and friends may even become a new tradition for you.
Create your own healthy, active holiday cheer.
The CDC recommends looking for simple ways to stay active during the winter. Try shopping for gifts in a mall with multiple floors and taking the stairs or walking around instead of driving to look at Christmas lights if possible. You can also try out more festive activities, like ice skating or sledding. Picking out a live tree to bring home and volunteering at a local nonprofit can also be good ways to spread cheer and stay active this season. You may also want to consider participating in a holiday-themed 5K with your loved ones or creating a scavenger hunt to get your exercise in.
Whether your holidays will be full of fun on the road or staycation cheer, take time to enjoy healthy, hearty foods and get creative about staying active with your loved ones as the year comes to an end.
Happy holidays from our team at QualChoice!
