eating rightWhen those holidays are approaching, you can practically taste all the goodies you know you are going to be exposed to. However, eating all of them can prove to be a mistake, as can not preparing them correctly. Following these tips during the holidays can help you avoid feelings of bloat, tiredness and actual illnesses.

  1. Drink water with your snacks and meals.  Make a habit of taking a sip of water between bites. This is going to help you eat less, so you don’t become too full. Not only will this help you feel better and more energetic throughout the day, but it will also help you to maintain your weight during this period of tempting gluttony.
  2. Set out healthy food choices with those sweets and treats. For every sweet treat you set out at your holiday table, you want to make sure you also set out a healthy food option. Make a conscious effort to alternate between the different foods while you are snacking throughout the day.
  3. Don’t put the stuffing directly in the chicken or turkey. For ages, people have been putting the stuffing right in the bird. This tradition continues in many households today. However, this is a practice which increases the chances of those eating your food getting a foodborne illness, such as salmonella. When you put the stuffing in the bird, it goes in the center and the stuffing is porous. This means while the bird cooks properly around it, the salmonella containing juices may soak into the stuffing which may not reach the necessary temperatures to cook it out. Instead, cook the stuffing in a pot and present it with the bird at the table.
  4. Don’t set utensils all over the kitchen. When you use a utensil to poke an uncooked bird, or another choice of meat, put it in the sink to be washed. Otherwise, you can be spreading salmonella to your kitchen work station to be picked up by other utensils you will be putting directly in the food to be served.

M.D. Express Urgent Care wants everyone to have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season!  Making good food choices can help to make that happen. If you do overindulge, however, and need the relief only medical care can provide, M.D. Express Urgent Care has 6 convenient locations open 9 am – 9 pm for your holiday health needs.