10 tips for surviving the Easter holidays without the blowout

Michelle Hall, a nutrition and eating psychology coach and the founder of Sage Wellness – a New Zealand Mind Body Nutrition practice that focuses on healing people’s relationships with food – shares her advice to help you sail through the festivities in a way that is nourishing and enjoyable.

Top-10 tips for a healthy Easter

1. Stay hydrated. When life gets busy at this time of year, it can be easy to forget to drink enough water. However, drinking water helps maintain the balance of fluids in the body, which is responsible for many different vital functions, from digestion to transportation and absorption of nutrients. Drinking water can also aid in fullness and energy levels. Make sure you sip on water throughout the day!

2. Get adequate sleep. While late nights make it hard to stick to a regular sleep schedule, sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and poor food choices. Sleep duration has a significant impact on the hormones which regulate hunger, thereby stimulating appetite. So make sure you prioritise getting some early nights in on the days you aren’t socialising.

Read also: Great sleep apps to help you sleep better

3. Don’t go to a party hungry. Never ever. I recommend eating a small, nutritious snack prior to attending an event that can help ease hunger. Think protein and fibre in your snacks that will help keep you fuller for longer, while allowing for a small, reasonable indulgence later.

Read also: Healthier snack alternatives to munch on

4. Watch your alcohol – drink smarter. When we drink too much alcohol, it can be much harder to manage nutrition, not to mention the toll it takes on your body. Alternating each drink with a glass of water helps manage your alcohol intake. Try swapping alcohol for Kombucha – still tastes great and so good for your gut!!

5. Don’t eat mindlessly. Many times meals are eaten while multi-tasking, which can lead to mindless over-eating. Taking a dedicated 20 minutes to fully chew, swallow and enjoy a meal can be a meaningful, restorative break in the day, allowing you to notice your fullness cues and not overeat. Be present when you eat, eat mindfully – ask yourself what would feel good for you, what would satisfy you. And eat it slowly and pleasurably. 

6. Indulge a little. Deprivation of favourite holiday-only treats often leads to bingeing, especially when stress levels are elevated. Treat yourself a bit, allow yourself some Easter goodies, don’t fully deny yourself. Plan them in and enjoy them.

Read also: 5 amazing Easter recipes

7. Don’t stop your workout routine. During the Easter holidays, it’s easy to run out of time to exercise. But remember that physical activity boosts your metabolism and makes you feel good. So, continue making movement a priority. Pick any workout you love and do it regularly. 

8. Create connection. Easter is about connection. But often if we are so pre-occupied with food, it’s difficult to be engaged with others and we end up missing out on being present. Focus on the people around you. Whichever social occasion you are at, find someone you can have a meaningful conversation with. You will notice how good it feels to fully connect with people around you and as you fill up with connection, the urge to fill up with food will decrease. 

9. Keep a good morning routine. Our morning routine determines the rest of the day. Skipping breakfast, stress, fighting children, can all be a trigger for overeating during the day. Try starting your day by getting up 10 minutes earlier. Add in five minutes of meditation. Slow your morning down, don’t rush it, have your breakfast, breathe, become mindful.

Read also: Morning habits of successful and healthy women

10. Ramp up self-care. Prioritise you. Take time out to do things that make you feel good and are just for you. The more you can fill yourself up with things that you love and make you feel good, the less you need to fill yourself up with food.

Read also: 33 things to add to your self-care routine