With Christmas officially less than a month away (eek!), the never ending parties and the comings and goings of friends and family are going to be here before we know it. That’s why we’ve asked paediatric dietician and founder of Nourishing Bubs, Olivia Bates to share top 5 tips for the festive season to ensure more cheers than tears.
TOP 5 TIPS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON:
Write a to do list & use your diary
Failure to plan is planning to fail. You’ve heard it all before but there really is something to be said for planning ahead. Grab a notepad and write a list of all the things you would like to achieve for yourself and your family over the holiday period. Then grab your calendar and schedule in as many of those things as you can into your diary. Make sure your schedule is reasonable and achievable. Some things like visits to Santa may be booked ahead, which can not only save you time but is also particularly good for smaller children who are unlikely to cope with long waits.
Maintain Routine
This is often easier said than done with all the extra commitments that come with the holiday period, but by maintaining a routine that is as close to normal as possible and minimising disruptions, you will be more likely to prevent tantrums and mood swings that come from overtiredness. This will ultimately benefit all involved.
Familiar items
If you are staying in an unfamiliar environment, such as a hotel or a friend or family members place, try and ensure you bring items of familiarity for your children. Whether this be a comforting toy, pillow, blanket (or similar), attempting to mimic the home environment will assist in preventing disruption to sleep patterns.
Meal Times
Aside from sleep, meal times are a key aspect of routine that should be maintained. Ensuring children of all ages have access to a steady supply of nutritional food and snacks is essential for preventing cranky, ‘hangry’ kids and also ensuring they don’t binge on the excess of festive fair on offer. Maintain the same principles as you would throughout the year ensuring that ‘sometimes’ foods don’t suddenly become ‘everyday’ foods, ultimately resulting in kids hyped up on sugar, who quickly crash.
Meal Prep
Having some pre-prepared meals and snacks in the freezer that can be defrosted on cue is always a great back up plan. Bolognaise sauce, sweet and savoury muffins, frittatas, soups and simple vegetable purees (hello Nourishing Bubs) can make mealtimes a breeze when you are short on time.
Last but not least, make sure you make the time to enjoy the holidays and don’t be too hard on yourself when things slip up because there is always another day!
We hope these top 5 tips for the festive season help! Happy holidays!
By Olivia Bates, Founder of Nourishing Bubs
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