Christmas in the City is officially underway! And in order to fully enjoy all that the Knoxville area has to offer, the team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville wants to make sure you know what precautions to take to stay healthy this season. Stay Healthy and Happy This Holiday It’s the most wonderful time of the year to focus on your health so that you can enjoy the fun holiday happenings taking place in and around our area. First, you’re going to want to work on your holiday eating habits. This month, you’re going to be tempted with more sugar than any other time of the year, with the possible exception of Halloween. Counteract all those parties and cookie exchanges by making sure you are eating well most days of the week during the holidays. That means starting each morning off right with a healthy breakfast, followed by balanced lunch and dinner options. When it comes to snacking, don’t immediately run for the sugar cookies. Instead, have a handful of raw almonds or a small bag of carrots as a in-between meal snack in order to make it through the day. Of course, eating well this time of year isn’t just to help prevent the holiday weight gain. The holidays are a busy time of year. Between the holiday shopping, attending the Annual Christmas Tours, and other seasonal activities, you need your body fueled with the right nutrients. Second, you’re going to want to stay active throughout the month in order to keep on a healthy track into the new year. Events such as the Rock’in Santa Half Marathon and Sunshine 5K can help you to stay in shape, while also allowing you to celebrate the season without having to worry about food being the primary focus. If you are traveling during the holiday season, you want to make sure you pack your healthy habits with you on your journey. Pack plenty of water, ensure the snacks you bring in the car are ones that are healthy and packed full of protein to help keep you full, and stop frequently throughout your trip in order to allow your body to stretch and move around a bit. In addition, be sure your hand-washing skills are sharp! With tons of people out and about during the holidays, there are more germs in the air. And with cooler temperatures, we aren’t opening the windows and doors enough to let those germs out. So wash your hands frequently—and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when water is not handy. Finally, remember to keep your stress to a minimum. This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year—not the most stress-filled time of year. Do what you can to give yourself some downtime. Whether it’s attending the Nativity Pageant or going shopping at the Market Square Holiday Market, take some time to enjoy the holiday season. Are you beginning to feel under the weather? Stop right there! The last thing you want to do is to fall ill over the holiday season. Visit AFC Urgent Care Knoxville today so we can help you begin feeling as good as new before Christmas morning!