12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday

Brighten the holidays by taking steps to make your health and safety a priority. Want to know what you can do to help ensure a healthy holiday? Here are some tips to stay safe and healthy during the holidays:

1. Wash hands often. It’s cold and flu season. Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of germs.
2. Bundle up. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots to keep you dry and warm. Keep a warm blanket and gloves in your trunk in case you get stranded on a snowy highway.
3. Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, do something you love, and get plenty of sleep.
4. Monitor children. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, and other objects out of children’s reach. Protect them from drowning, burns, falls, and other potential accidents.
5. Fasten seat belts. Always buckle up while driving or riding in a motor vehicle, no matter how short the trip, and encourage others to do the same.
6. Don’t drink and drive or let others drive drunk. Whenever anyone drives drunk, they put everyone on the road in danger. Also beware of the dangers of underage drinking.
7. Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Smokers have greater health risks because of their tobacco use, but nonsmokers also are at risk when exposed to smoke. Even vaping can be bad for you.
8. Practice fire safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so don’t leave fireplaces, space heaters, food cooking on stoves, or candles unattended. Inspect lights and cords for broken sockets, frayed wires or loose connections, and look for the UL label on electrical and electronic items.
9. Prepare food safely. Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures, and refrigerate foods promptly.
10. Eat healthy. Allow yourself to splurge, but stick to smaller servings and balance them with healthier options. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables which pack nutrients and help lower the risk for certain diseases. Limit your consumption of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.
11. Take your vitamins. Teens and adolescents should take a daily vitamin supplement. You don’t always get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs from your diet. Just don’t let supplements take the place of a varied diet, which you need for strong growth and maintaining good health.
12. Stay active. Kids and teens should be active for at least 1 hour a day. Adults should be active for at least 2½ hours a week.

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!