Let them eat pud: staying healthy over the holidays

*Cue disbelief at where the year has gone.*

With pavlovas, parties and punch it’s no surprise that staying healthy during the festive season can be a challenge. But it’s not impossible! We’ve put together a couple of tricks and strategies to keep you healthy and happy over the holidays.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES

• Have a light pre-party meal to help with canape control. If you’re not ravenous, you’ll be more able to pass over the deep fried and other energy-dense bites without feeling deprived.
• Keep yourself interested with refreshing teetotallers like Pimm’s-style iced tea, St Clements, cucumber seltzer, a festive hot toddy (add cloves or cinnamon), or these bespoke mocktails created by NZ Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Champion, Darren Miley.
• Get involved with Christmas carols – group singing has recently been suggested as a mood and immunity-booster for breastcancer patients and survivors.

PRESENTS & PREPARATIONS

• Embrace your indecision in the shopping mall! Walking up and down is a great way to clock up some steps without even realising.
• Enlist some elves* to help you with the usual Christmas Day preparations; there’s no need to take it all on by yourself.

*small children, your significant other, neighbours, friends, extended whanau…

CHRISTMAS DAY

• Embrace the festivities, play! Collect shells, swim in the sea, make pomanders or gift yourself a massage to start off the New Year.
• Aim to get a rainbow on your plate for Christmas lunch and allow yourself a some pav’ or a piece of Christmas pud if that’s what you love.
• Take your Christmas party for a walk along the beach to get moving after all the feasting.

HOLIDAY HEADSPACE

• Know that Christmas after or during breast cancer treatment, can be tough. It’s ok to feel a bit off.
• Consider setting boundaries with friends and whanau before the day – it’s entirely up to you if you want to talk about what you’re going through or not; you may just like to forget.
• You’re online support crew isn’t taking a break – reach out to your mybc community any hour of any day.
  

HANDY TIPS

• Carry a small drink bottle to help you stay hydrated.
• Be smart in the sun and cover up, especially if you’ve had radiation therapy within the past year.
• Go for sunrise walks – they’ll help you start your day energised.