How to Celebrate this Holiday Season safely with your family?
This holiday season, we want to make sure you don’t get sick.
We know that you and your family are coming down with the holiday cheer—and that means you’re probably going to need some help staying healthy while enjoying all the festivities.
If you want to give yourself and your family, the gift of greater health this holiday season, consider these strategies for adding more activity to your day and nutritious foods to your plate.
Traditions around the holidays are crucial for families and children. There are many ways to enjoy seasonal traditions while also protecting your health.
Because many generations congregate to celebrate holidays, getting vaccinated (Covid-19 Booster Dose if you are eligible & Flu Vaccine) is the best approach to reduce COVID-19 risk and Flu fever. So it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep your family and friends safe.
1. Stay Safe
1. Get Your Covid-19 Vaccination Booster Dose
You can’t get better than this! It’s a great way to keep your loved ones safe, and it’ll also help you avoid getting sick yourself.
2. Be updated with your Flu Vaccines
This is crucial! Make sure you’re up-to-date on your flu vaccinations so that you’re always protected from the flu virus.
3. Wear a Mask whenever necessary
If you’ve got colds or allergies, a mask will be key for keeping them at bay during the holiday season.
4. Maintain Social Distancing in Crowds
There are lots of places where people gather, such as malls and airports, where crowds quickly form and may be hazardous for those who are unfamiliar with them (or who are unprepared).
We understand that you enjoy spending time outside in the cold, but we also recognize that doing so can be quite risky if you are near people who are not wearing masks. So, Keep your distance.
5. Take a Test if you are feeling sick
To avoid the spread of disease to others, do a test.
To discover COVID-19 vaccine stations near you, visit vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.
2. Stay Active
Even a few minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity can provide some health advantages and help you meet the requirements. Physical activity has numerous advantages for adults, including reduced short-term anxiety and improved sleep.
Here are some ideas to help you stay active throughout the holidays:
Before entering any stores, walk a couple of quick laps around the shopping mall.
Take the stairs whenever possible. Stairs can be found in parking garages, businesses, and retail malls. If you can’t make it up the stairs, take the elevator part of the way and then the stairs the rest of the way.
During your errands, you can avoid looking for a nearby parking spot. Park further away and take a quick stroll to your destination.
Go on a group walk with your friends and family. You can make the walk more enjoyable by making it a scavenger hunt. Play an energetic group game in your backyard or a nearby park.
Instead of driving, bundle up and go on a walk to admire the holiday lights.
3. Eat Healthily
Eating healthy maintains muscles and bones, increases immunity, aids digestion, and aids in weight management, among other health benefits. Eating a variety of healthful foods is part of good nutrition.
To do so throughout the holidays:
If you eat meals heavy in calories, saturated fat, or added sugars, eat them in modest portions and just once in a while. Most of the time, choose healthier foods.
Fill your plate with your favorite fruits and vegetables first, followed by small servings of less healthful items during parties and other occasions.
If you’re going to a party, bring your favorite healthful dish. Then you can be confident that at least one item at the party will be a healthy option that you appreciate.
Make healthier versions of your favorite meals by using lower-fat and lower-salt components.
Add salsa or black bean sauce to baked fish or chicken to make it more flavorful.
Consider substituting beans for higher-fat meats.
4. Avoid Party?
Tricky Question… huh?
Should you avoid parties, or should you be partying this year to balance the cheer you have missed from last year’s season?.
Partying with the following “New Normal” will be a good healthy call I would suggest this year.
Don’t attend the parties if you are feeling sick.
5. Plan a virtual Family Party
If you don’t want to have family party fun or don’t want to avoid the party, still you can enjoy a virtual party with your family and friends.
Reduce risk this year by relocating the celebration online and creating a virtual gathering.
Setting up a group video chat allows everyone to be together even if it isn’t the same as being in the same room.
To make things go more smoothly, test your preferred virtual gathering approach ahead of time to iron out any technical kinks.
6. Arrange for a Virtual Gift-opening party
Plan ahead of time with family and send or drop off gifts for each other.
When it’s time to open gifts, everyone can do so together through group video call. The best way to connect without family during this pandemic.
7. Prevent Food Poisoning
Maintain a happy holiday season by handling food carefully. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ foodsafety.gov website offers some helpful Christmas food safety tips:
When handling food, wash your hands frequently.
Separate raw meat from fresh produce.
To avoid cross-contamination, use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils for raw and cooked meats.
To ensure that the meat is cooked to a safe temperature, use a food thermometer.
Refrigerate leftover hot or cold meals within two hours of serving.
When preserving leftover turkey, chop it into little pieces so it can cool fast.
8. Safe Holiday travel
If you’re thinking about traveling for a holiday or special event, the CDC’s Travel page can help you decide what’s best for you and your family.
Choose safer travel options if you will be traveling with unvaccinated persons in a group or family.
Everyone, including those who are completely vaccinated, is forced to wear a mask on public transit and adhere to international travel guidelines.
If you are planning to travel for the holidays by land or air, these suggestions can help you stay healthy while on the road.
Travel By a Car:
Prepare your vehicle for the winter and keep an emergency kit on hand.
Before you leave, get a full night’s sleep and avoid drowsy driving.
Prepare for high traffic by leaving early.
Ensure that everyone in the car is correctly strapped up, regardless of how far or how small the distance traveled is.
Put your phone away; there are many distractions when driving, but cell phones are the primary offender.
Instead of sugary drinks, quench your thirst with water and no- or low-calorie drinks. Add slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, watermelon, or whatever fruit you choose to your water for taste. Another calorie-free choice is sparkling water. Bring a reusable water bottle with you for refills.
Pack healthy snacks like fruits, veggies, and nuts to replace cookies, chips, and candies. These healthful snacks might help you stay full. You may be less likely to consume something unhealthy if you have healthful meals on hand.
Plan stops throughout your route for short periods of physical activity.
When you are at a rest stop or in a convenience Store:
Take 10 minutes at a rest stop to walk, jog, or do some jumping jacks. Any physical exercise is preferable to none! Those ten minutes count toward the prescribed number of minutes of physical activity per week.
Snacks that promote healthy eating, such as fruit or nuts, should be chosen. You can also bring your meals to satisfy both your body and your pocketbook.
When you are at the Airport:
Consider making shorter or direct excursions between destinations to reduce the possibility of close encounters.
To minimize crowds, consider traveling at off-peak hours.
When possible, walk to your gate rather than taking a tram or shuttle. Some airports feature signage indicating how far you need to walk to your gate.
Make a plan ahead of time to make nursing more comfortable. Bringing a sling or soft infant carrier may make nursing more comfortable. Breastmilk and an electric breast pump can be transported on airlines.
9. Special Considerations
Even if they are fully vaccinated and have received an extra dosage, people who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be entirely protected.
They should continue to take all measures suggested for unvaccinated persons, including wearing a well-fitting mask until their healthcare physician advises them differently.
If a member of your household has a weaker immune system, is at increased risk for serious disease, or is unvaccinated, you may choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission.
If you are gathering with people from many families and possibly from different parts of the country, you may want to take additional precautions (e.g., avoid crowded indoor spaces before travel, take a test) before the event to lessen risk.
Do not put a mask on a youngster under the age of two.
So, Are we ready to celebrate our Holiday season with safety measures?..
