Just when you thought all the holidays and corresponding high-calorie food was behind you, Easter (with its delicious chocolates and family meals) presents a challenge for all of us to eat healthily and get the quality sleep your body deserves!
Your dream team has compiled a few tips to help you be the best you over the Easter holiday. IN AN EGGSHELL (nutshell)!
- Maintain healthy eating and drinking habits.
- Be active and stick to your regular exercise routine.
- Be cautious of stress levels and remove unnecessary temptations.
- Maintain a routine, and this includes your sleep habits.
You have a lot on your plate this Easter, but rest assured, all of these things are little Easter Eggs to help you enjoy the holiday. Let’s break it down even further:
- Plan to save calories throughout the day by eating smaller portions of your regular meals to help create a slight calorie deficit allowing for a treat or two!
- It may be difficult for some, but try to avoid that 1-pound solid chocolate bunny. No matter how cute it is!
- Don’t sit down to Easter dinner on an empty stomach! It may be challenging, but partaking in small snacks of veggies and fruits ahead of time will prevent one from having the desire to overeat, making you feel tired and impacting your sleep stages.
- Eat close to your regular times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is planned for later than usual, snack in advance and eat less when dinner is served.
- Please slow down, savour small serving sizes, and count them in your meal plan. Remember that it’s during these times that we get to have some of our favourites, and we need to plan accordingly. Limit the extra carbs that come with the regular potatoes and bread; you will get through the Easter holiday without overdoing it.
- Limit or eliminate your alcohol consumption because this will lead to a night of poorer sleep, which; will leave you feeling exhausted and not ready for the week ahead.
- Spring has sprung in BC; get out there with your family and make an easter egg hunt in your home and neighbourhood!
- After that Easter dinner, organize a family walk! It will help burn off some of those Turkey calories and help your body digest and relax before bedtime.
- Share those treats! If you get a bag of candy that tempts you, remember to Share, Share, Share! Bring to your workplace to share with your colleagues, or donate unopened non-perishable food to the local food bank!
- Plan the day out and ask for help. Please do not do it on your own. Family functions can result in extra stress and anxiety, so plan for this in advance and lean on the support that is around you to get through the holidays happy and healthy.
- Ask the Easter Bunny for non-food-related items. Focus less on the sweets and treats and more on thoughtful gifts, such as flower arrangements or spring orchids!
- Over the holidays, some people stay up later or go out more often. This change in routine can impact our regular sleep cycles, causing it to be more difficult to manage, not only our blood sugar; but also the foods that we start to crave. Ensure that you aim for those regular 7 – 9 hours of sleep that you need and that it’s falling into your routine.
At Snore MD, we are on a mission to help Canadians live a healthier life through better sleep, healthier lifestyle choices, and caring for the entire human body. If you have questions about your sleep or how Snore MD can help you or your loved ones live a better life, please stop into one of our friendly locations across BC and Alberta and speak with a member of our Dream Team. Do you know a loved one who may not be getting the sleep they need? Tired in the morning and groggy in the afternoon? They may have a severe sleep disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
