The holidays...a time of joy, gratitude, sharing..and lots of eating and drinking! Am I right?? Not exactly a time when words like "healthy" or "exercise" come into our vocabularies. It's more like this:


I am ALL for Eat, Drink and Be Merry this time of year! However, I also don't like to feel terrible come January 1st and feel like I have to play catch up at the gym with the other 4 zillion people there! Here my 10 tips on how you can stay healthy this holiday season ~


1. Consistency with Exercise: This might be a no-brainier but the holidays are NOT a time to throw your exercise routine out the window simply because "it's the holidays." Consistency with exercise is KEY for several reasons. First--it helps balance out the extra calories you will undoubtedly consume! Also, exercise is also a huge stress reliever and I don't know about you, but the holidays aren't exactly stress-free around my house!!

If you aren't currently doing any exercise don't use the excuse that you'll "wait until the new year." Start NOW!! Get a jump start and get ahead instead of feeling so far behind come January 1st. It can be as simple as committing to a walk around the block, dusting off the treadmill that you vow to pull out January 1st, a workout video or a quick 7 minute workout (Google "7 Minute Workout"). ANYTHING to get your body moving and your endorphins released will help you through the holidays in more ways than one!


2. Stay Hydrated: Did you know the recommended amount of water to drink is HALF your body weight in ounces? So if you are 150 lbs, that means you need 75 oz, or roughly six 12 oz bottles of water each day. Water helps with so many things, but one thing it really help with is controlling the amount you eat and how full you feel. I never used to drink water with meals but now that I do, I find myself wanting LESS food!


3. Your Plate: When you eat a large meal, try to balance your plate so it's completely overloaded with fats and carbs. Here's a basic rule of thumb you can follow for a holiday meal ~

* 2 Proteins=the size of your palm (ham, turkey, steak, etc)
* 2 Carbs=what would fit in your cupped hand (those creamy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and all the yummy starchy goodness!)
* 2-4 Veggies/Fruits=the size of your fist (hopefully there are veggie options at your holiday table! Salad, green beans, brussel sprouts, etc.)



4. Have a Plan: This may be the most important one of all! You MUST plan your meals ahead. If you don't, you will end up hungry (HANGRY!) and frantic which will 100% of the time lead to poor food choices. Been there, done that!! I have been planning my meals for years and it literally takes me less than 15-20 minutes on a weekend. It 100% sets me up for success the next week!


5. SNACK!!! When you plan your meals, plan healthy snacks too! Have them READY and AVAILABLE when those temptations creep up!! Here are some ideas of healthy snacks that are packable and aren't full of empty calories!


6. Avoid Temptation: If you work in an office or at a school like I do, the break room is my arch nemesis during this time of year! Cookies, candy, doughnuts are EVERYWHERE in the break room. I know I'm a sucker for a piece of See's Candy and a doughnut or two, so I just pack my healthy snack and STAY OUT! That way I don't have to see it or think about what I am missing! If you're at home, same thing--stash junk out of sight (no little candy dishes all around the house!) or better yet, give it away! You can't eat what's not around.


7. Gifts other than baking: A simple "i'm thinking of you" gift such as nail polish with a personalized tag, a DIY picture frame or a decorated mug or mason jars filled with cookie baking ingredients are all simple ways to say "Happy Holidays!" without sticking more cookies or fudge in front of someone...well, in front of US because if you bake them, you know you have try them...just to make sure they're good :)




8. The Ten Minute Rule: I LOVE to eat. Make no mistake about it! On Thanksgiving, I am typically the first one to get up for seconds of mashed potatoes and whatever other starch is left! This Thanksgiving though, I did things a little differently. I drank lots of water with my meal (#2 above!) and after I was done, I just sat and waited for 10 minutes. I enjoyed my glass of wine and just sat at the table and chatted instead of immediately rushing for a 2nd plate. IT WORKED!! After 10 minutes, I found myself just perfectly full (with a little room left for dessert!!) and I didn't need to get up for more food. Afterwards I felt AWESOME, not bloated and stuffed like I used to! You learn something new every day!! :)


9. Pre-Eat for Holiday Gatherings: It's a given that there is delicious food everywhere at holiday gatherings, and pretty much none of it is healthy! There is no avoiding it, but I have found it helpful to eat a decent meal before I leave for a party. Then you are able to indulge in SOME things, but hopefully won't have the appetite to go crazy on the meatballs and cheese tray!

10. Moderation: Most people fall into two camps around the holidays...ALL or NOTHING ~

* ALL: "I'm not exercising, I'm eating whatever I want, indulging...this is the HOLIDAYS! I want to enjoy!!"
* NOTHING: "No, I can't eat that, it'll ruin my diet. I can't eat dessert. I can't I can't I can't."

These "all or nothing" attitudes aren't healthy! Remember that moderation is key. Have a Christmas cookie, but ONE small one. Have a piece of candy one day, but forgo the workplace sweets the rest of the week. Don't deprive yourself, but practice self control. Listen to Julia!



With that, my friends, I am wishing you all a very, very happy, blessed and healthy holiday season!!!!




Don't forget to follow A Little Bit of Cheer on Facebook HERE

Follow me on Instagram HERE

Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE  

See where I link up HERE


Casey is a busy mom of 3, part time teacher, Sunday School teacher and health and fitness coach. Casey lives near the Napa Valley which keeps her busy finding the latest and greatest red wines. She blogs about fashion, food, fitness and family at A Little Bit of Cheer, she is also a contributor for The Blended Blog.

I received a bundle of leeks in my organic produce box this week and had no clue what to do with it. I have never cooked a leek in my life. I scoured the internet looking at different recipes and adapted more than a couple to come up with my own (I have issues following recipes to the letter, it just doesn't happen). My goal was to keep it easy and delicious and there's no doubt I succeeded. This soup was a HIT! Enjoy!



Ingredients:

8-10 potatoes
3 leeks
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound of bacon
1.5 cups of whole milk
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1.5 cups water (optional)

Directions:

1. Peel and cut potatoes. In a large stockpot, bring potatoes and broth to a boil. Continue to cook until potatoes are tender. 
2. Cup up bacon (I use scissors and cut in 1 inch strips) and place in deep drying pan on medium heat. Cook until evenly brown. Remove bacon but leave grease in pan.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Clean and cut leeks. **leeks are notorious for being full of dirt - watch this video for a how-to for leek-prep**
4. Saute the leeks in the frying pan with the reserved bacon grease (for 8-10 min on medium heat).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Once potatoes are tender, stir in fried leeks, milk and bacon. Turn off heat and let soup begin to cool. Stir in shredded cheese (I wait until the soup has been cooling for about 15 min, so the cheese doesn't break down).
   
   
   
   
   
6. Decision time: if you like chunky soup, use a potato masher until soup is desired consistency. If you like creamy soup, grab a hand blender and puree away! NOTE: I found the soup SUPER thick at this point so I added 1.5 cups of water while pureeing (this is optional but it didn't impact the flavor in the slightest).
   
   
   
   
   
7. ENJOY!!
   
   if you want to be real fancy-like, you can top with left over chopped leeks (I forgot to save any), shredded cheese, bacon (which I also forgot to save for picture-taking purposes) and a dollop of sour cream. YUM!!
   
   
   
   
   

There is nothing that makes me happier than a cool fall day, a cozy sweater, football on TV...and the crockpot cooking up some deliciousness while I sip wine :) Can I get an "Amen?!"


In the past, crockpot meals have tended to involve dumping cans of soup and powdered mixtures in the pot, along with a protein and calling it a day. I think that can be the misconception with crockpot food--it's unhealthy. I recently hosted a 5 Day Clean Eating Crockpot Challenge on Facebook and showed 170 of my closest friends :) just how HEALTHY crockpot meals can be!

Today I am sharing with you the Top 3 faves from from the group! All of these recipes are healthy, "clean" (very few, if any processed ingredients) and most of all, DELISH!!!

Recipe 1: Fall Chili ~ This recipe was the highest rated recipe of the week. Everyone raved over the EASE of making it and a secret ingredient! (can you guess what it is??!) This chili turned many non-chili eaters into chili believers :) It's PACKED with veggies, protein and everything you need to get your comfort food fix!

3 cloves minced garlic

1 green pepper, diced

1 15 oz. can diced fire roasted tomatoes, low sodium

1 28oz can of low sodium crushed tomatoes

1 15 oz. can chili beans

1 15 oz. can kidney beans

1 15 oz. can black beans

1 cup frozen corn

1 15 oz. can puréed pumpkin (not pie filling)

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/2 tablespoon cumin

Salt to taste (don’t add salt until the very end...you may not even need any!)

Shredded cheese and scallions (optional)

1. In a large pan, brown ground turkey, breaking up meat as it cooks.
2. When the meat is cooked, place everything in crockpot and stir to combine.
3. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7 hrs.
4. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and scallions (optional).

Recipe 2: Crockpot Meat Sauce ~ Again another hit and SO EASY! This is my go-to dinner when I have company...there is never a drop left!! I buy Rao's or Gina Rispoli marinara sauce for this. Yes, it's a bit pricey but SO WORTH IT. I have also just used crushed tomatoes and that works well too.

1. In a large skillet, brown meat in 2 teaspoons olive oil. Transfer to crockpot.
2. Add in carrot, onion, garlic, celery tomatoes/marinara sauce to crockpot and stir to combine.
3. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 5-6 hours. Season with salt at the END of cooking, only if needed.
4. Serve over whole wheat pasta with mixed greens drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Recipe 3: Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki ~ Do you know how EASY it is to make your own teriyaki sauce?? After this recipe you will!! Just make your sauce, throw it in with some chicken and 4 hours later you have a meal your whole family will love!

1. Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of your slow cooker in a single layer.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the garlic, onion, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger, and black pepper until combined. Pour the mixture on top of the chicken breasts.
3. Cover slow cooker, and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and shreds easily with a fork (do not overcook, the chicken will dry out)
4. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon to a separate bowl and shred it using two forks. Transfer the remaining teriyaki sauce from the slow cooker to a medium saucepan.
5. Meanwhile in a separate bowl, whisk together the cold water and cornstarch until the cornstarch is dissolved and no longer lumpy. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the teriyaki sauce mixture, and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, and let it boil for about 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat, and pour the sauce on top of the shredded chicken. Toss to combine.
6. Top with scallions and serve over brown rice.

I truly hope you will look at your crockpot as a vital tool in your kitchen for cooking up easy, healthy meals for your family! Bon Appétit! ~ XO