During the holidays there are delicious once-a-year treats everywhere, and it’s common to over-indulge on sweets, breads, high-calorie drinks, and other treats. It’s also common for people to gain a few pounds over the holidays. Gaining a few pounds might not seem like a big problem, but it can be troublesome for seniors. Seniors have a higher risk for conditions like diabetes that can be impacted by weight gain. Companion care at home providers can help seniors avoid holiday weight gain and encourage seniors to be more active during the holidays and in the new year.
Seniors have a harder time losing weight because it can be more difficult for them to exercise. That’s why seniors need to do whatever they can to avoid gaining those holiday pounds.
In addition to having companion care at home, seniors can use these tips to enjoy the holidays without putting on too many holiday pounds:
Don’t Skip Meals
Seniors who skip breakfast or lunch in anticipation of a rich holiday dinner or holiday sweets may be so hungry that they eat more than they should. Seniors should eat small meals regularly throughout the day so that they won’t be starving when they sit down to enjoy traditional holiday foods and desserts. Having small regular meals will also help seniors avoid overdoing it when it comes to high-calorie holiday appetizers and snacks.
Portion Control
Eating small portions of holiday favorites is a great way for seniors to eat all the holiday foods they want to eat without worrying about extra calories. Eating a half-size portion or a small portion of many different holiday meals and treats means that seniors will be able to enjoy all the bounty of the holidays without putting their health at risk.
Watch Those Liquid Calories
Holiday drinks are delicious but often filled with high-fat and high-sugar ingredients. If seniors are going to drink alcohol they should limit their drinking to one holiday cocktail. Drinks like hot chocolate, hot cider, and egg nog should be consumed in moderation too. Seniors need to remember those drinks can be very high in calories and adjust their calorie intake accordingly.
Get Moving
It’s normal for seniors to let their exercise routine slide a little during the holiday. But, any movement is good. Seniors who want to offset the extra calories that they’re taking in can walk around the house, dance a little at holiday parties, or go for a walk outside if the weather isn’t too cold. Getting extra activity is a fantastic way to prevent holiday weight gain.
Bring A Healthy Dish To Pass
When seniors are attending family events they can make sure there’s something healthy on the menu by bringing a healthy dish to pass. There will be plenty of sweets and treats, so bring a vegetable dish or a low-calorie veggie casserole instead of cookies.
Celebrate Without Food
There are a lot of holiday traditions seniors can participate in that don’t involve food. Seniors can play games with the kids, help fill stockings, help decorate the tree or watch holiday movies with their families instead of eating a lot of holiday sweets.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in New Providence NJ, please get in touch with the caring staff at Helping Hands Homecare today. Call (908) 418-4299
Helping Hands Homecare provides Senior Home Care Services throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, Short Hills, Millburn, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Kenilworth, Summit, Chatham, Madison, Metuchen, and surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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