CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 11/20/14

Twelve ways to get jolly without the jiggle

By Bridget Marie Thompson

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why: 5 extra pounds is coming to town — only if you allow it! No one wants to be a Scrooge, and part of the joy of the holidays revolves around food. So how are we supposed to stay extra jolly and not gain extra jiggle?

The secret to having your cake and eating it too is simple — get moving! A single indulgence won’t add pounds, but they tend to become the normal fare for months around the holidays. If you don’t counteract those extra treats with extra movement, you’ll see extra pounds. University of Georgia Extension's Walk Georgia program has created a 12-day list that will help you enjoy the season to its fullest while staying active!

12 Days of Holiday Health

  • Give the gift of fitness. Do some research on spring races in your community and purchase registration for yourself and your best friend. Merry Fitness!
  • Make a big red and green salad for dinner. Share it with friends on social media (and don’t forget to tag Walk Georgia). We love a spinach salad with pomegranate, pears, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese.
  • Take a long walk to forage pinecones, evergreen boughs, eucalyptus and holly berries. You can make a wreath, a festive centerpiece or fresh potpourri — simply simmer evergreen, orange peels and cloves in a pot of water; your house will smell lovely.
  • Use holiday shopping as a way to burn some calories. Wear a pedometer and commit to taking 10,000 steps. You can do it!
  • Treat yourself. Buy boxes of your favorite flavored teas. It’s an inexpensive indulgent treat that will keep you warm all month long, without adding an extra “layer."
  • Turn up the holiday music and get dancing. You can burn up to 610 calories after an hour of dancing.
  • What’s one of the best seasonal workouts? Ice-skating, of course! Find a rink and lace up those skates. Ice-skating can burn over 500 calories per hour.
  • It’s not too early to make a new year’s commitment. Reflect on the upcoming New Year today. How will you move in 2015? Simply write these down, and place then on the refrigerator to get a head start.
  • Did you know that regular supermarkets sell roasted chestnuts? Buy a pack to share and enjoy the health benefits, including fiber, vitamins and minerals. Plus, they are lower in fat than most nuts.
  • Bundle Up! Take a WALK, instead of a drive to see the Christmas lights this year. None in your neighborhood? Scout out the best ones then drive, park and walk.
  • Cookies for Santa is so passé; leave Santa some real fuel. Whole-wheat banana bread is a great substitution. Find the recipe on Walk Georgia’s blog — and don’t forget carrots for the reindeer!
  • Have some fun. Play active games with your family as a part of the Christmas fun. Or plant a permanent tree. Buy a small cyprus or pine tree and help someone in the future enjoy the beauty of the holidays.

Want more fitness inspiration? Sign up for Walk Georgia’s newsletter by visiting blog.extension.uga.edu/walkgeorgia and receive healthy recipes and fitness tips. Walk Georgia is a free, online program that enables you to track and get points for moving. The website will be re-launching February 1. Walk Georgia’s mission is to inspire Georgians to move more, so that they can live more.

Bridget Thompson is the public relations specialist for the University of Georgia's Walk Georgia program.

Authors:
Bridget Marie Thompson
Experts/Sources:
Maria Bowie
The Walk Georgia logo was introduced in 2014.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Many foods have to be cooked to safe minimum internal temperatures to be safe to eat. Use a clean, calibrated, accurate food thermometer to make sure meat and poultry are cooked to a proper temperature, and keep a minimum cooking temperatures chart handy. CAES News
Prepare food safely to avoid foodborne illness while sheltering in place 04/21/20 Elizabeth L. Andress
Usual daily routines have been disrupted by the current COVID-19 crisis and many people are spending more time cooking at home than before. While our health is always on our minds, it is important to maintain safe food handling at this time so our lives are not further complicated by foodborne illness. 
With many Americans now rapidly adjusting to working or studying from home – often within arm’s reach of the refrigerator or pantry – the temptation to overeat is a real one, and it can have real consequences. CAES News
Tips to avoid overeating while working from home 04/15/20 Cal Powell
Overeating is a normal reaction to being bored or anxious, but in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon has taken on a new dimension. With many Americans now rapidly adjusting to working or studying from home – often within arm’s reach of the refrigerator or pantry – the temptation to overeat is a real one, and it can have real consequences.
Takeout is a good choice to lower risk of exposure to COVID-19 because it reduces the number of touchpoints relative to eating in a restaurant, said Elizabeth Andress, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension food safety specialist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
UGA food safety expert: takeout is a low-risk option 03/26/20 Cal Powell
Buying takeout food is a good choice to lower risks of exposure to COVID-19 because it reduces the number of touchpoints relative to eating in a restaurant, said Elizabeth Andress, a UGA Extension food safety specialist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
When a weather emergency is expected, shoppers rush out and stock up on milk and bread. But what happens if the electricity goes off for days and the milk spoils, or after the loaf of bread runs out? University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts say having at least a three-day supply of shelf-stable food will give you a little peace of mind when it comes to feeding your family during a storm. CAES News
Stock food and water supplies in preparation for emergencies 03/11/20 Sharon Dowdy
News of the coronavirus has many people feeling uneasy and helpless. Building a supply of emergency food and water is a task University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts say will help Georgians prepare for any kind of emergency, be it a medical quarantine, a snowstorm or a major power outage.
Food eTalk is an innovative, smartphone-based eLearning nutrition education program tailored to the specific needs of SNAP-eligible adult Georgians. The program was developed by UGA SNAP-Ed, nutrition education and obesity prevention program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through UGA Cooperative Extension. CAES News
UGA SNAP-Ed rolls out nation’s first evidence-based online program 01/28/20 Cal Powell
The University of Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program has launched Food eTalk, the country’s only evidence-based online SNAP-Ed program.
Food safety is key when roasting a turkey. CAES News
Don't leave holiday leftovers sitting out 11/25/19 Clint Thompson
A focal point of holiday festivities for families every year is to gather around the dinner table and partake of delicious delicacies. But as scrumptious as those goodies are the first time, eating them again can be just as good if they are handled properly.