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Holiday Wellness: Why the Festive Season Threatens Your Health
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Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 15:05 GMT by WISH-TV- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Summarizing “Maintaining Wellness During the Holiday Season with Stephanie Mansour” (Wish TV)
The Wish TV article titled “Maintaining Wellness During the Holiday Season with Stephanie Mansour” offers a practical, science‑backed roadmap for staying healthy amid the festive rush. The piece is framed as a conversational interview with Stephanie Mansour—a registered dietitian, wellness coach, and the founder of The Healthy Eating Center—and is peppered with actionable tips, supporting research, and a few gentle reminders that the holidays can be both a challenge and an opportunity for growth.
1. Why the holidays can derail wellness
Mansour starts by acknowledging the common holiday pitfalls: “We’re surrounded by high‑calorie treats, the social pressure to overeat, and the temptation to skip sleep or exercise.” She cites data from the American Psychological Association that shows an average increase of 400–600 calories per person during the holiday season. A key takeaway is that the problem isn’t just about the food itself, but the context—stress, social obligation, and altered routines all amplify the risk of weight gain and energy dips.
2. Set realistic, attainable goals
A recurring theme in the article is the importance of realistic goal‑setting. Mansour recommends:
| Goal Type | Example | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Mindful eating | Aim to eat until you’re 80 % full. | Reduces the tendency to overeat. |
| Movement | A 15‑minute walk after each meal. | Increases metabolism and counters post‑meal sluggishness. |
| Sleep | Target 7–8 hours per night. | Helps regulate hunger hormones and stress response. |
She underscores that “celebration” is a personal metric; if a goal feels too rigid, it’s likely to backfire.
3. Pre‑plan to stay on track
Mansour’s most cited tool is pre‑planning. She suggests:
- Create a holiday menu: Map out all family gatherings and decide in advance what will be served. This allows you to control portion sizes and balance macronutrients.
- Buy a food journal: A simple notebook or a phone app can track what you eat and how you feel. Patterns often emerge that help you tweak your approach.
- Prepare “safety foods”: Have a handful of high‑protein, low‑sugar snacks (nuts, Greek yogurt, boiled eggs) to curb cravings that arise from late‑night parties.
The article links to an external “Holiday Menu Planning Checklist” that Mansour uses with her clients, which you can download directly from her website (stephanemansour.com/holiday-menu).
4. Balance indulgence and nutrition
Mansour’s philosophy is “indulgence, not avoidance.” She advocates for:
- Portion control: Use smaller plates or a food‑portion guide that comes from the Walt Disney portion control tool.
- Nutrition density: Pair high‑calorie desserts with nutrient‑rich sides such as roasted vegetables or leafy greens.
- Sugar swaps: When possible, opt for fruit‑based desserts (e.g., apple crisp with cinnamon) or dark chocolate (70 % cocoa or higher).
A specific example she gives is “instead of a full-size pumpkin pie, try a single slice accompanied by a side salad. The salad’s fiber will help you feel satisfied longer.”
5. Keep moving: movement is holiday medicine
In an interview segment, Mansour demonstrates a quick “holiday‑style” workout—three rounds of 30 seconds of jumping jacks, high‑knees, and squat jumps. She stresses that the goal isn’t necessarily to burn a ton of calories, but to get the heart rate up, improve circulation, and combat the “sit‑and‑savor” mindset of holiday meals. She links to a “Holiday Workout Playlist” she curated, complete with upbeat tracks that last exactly 12 minutes, making it easy to fit in a session before a dinner or after a shopping trip.
6. Sleep and stress: the silent saboteurs
Mansour points out that stress hormones like cortisol can spike during holiday planning and family drama. She recommends:
- Mindful breathing: A 5‑minute diaphragmatic breathing session before bed or during a hectic holiday moment.
- Limit caffeine after 2 p.m.: This helps prevent nighttime insomnia.
- Digital detox: A strict “no phone rule” during dinner helps reduce overstimulation and supports better sleep.
The article shares a link to a short guided meditation video on her YouTube channel (subscribe for free content).
7. Nutrition‑focused gift ideas
A lighthearted section of the article features “wellness gifts” that can keep the holiday spirit alive without adding excess calories. Mansour recommends:
- DIY spice blends: Easy to package in small jars and can be a healthier alternative to pre‑seasoned meats.
- Herb garden kits: Fresh herbs add flavor without the need for butter or cream.
- Reusable water bottles: Encourages hydration—an often overlooked element of wellness.
8. Family‑friendly strategies
Because the holiday season is a social affair, Mansour gives specific family‑friendly tactics:
- Lead by example: If you’re on a walking route after dinner, others are more likely to join.
- Create a “healthy family dish”: Choose one meal that is low in calories but high in taste—e.g., stuffed bell peppers or grilled fish with citrus.
- Set a “no‑food‑talk” rule for 10 minutes: Allows everyone to enjoy their food without feeling pressured to compare portions.
9. The bigger picture: holiday wellness is a mindset
The article concludes with Mansour’s key message: wellness isn’t a 30‑day diet, it’s a year‑long mindset. She urges readers to use the holiday season as a chance to practice self‑compassion and develop sustainable habits. “When you come out of the holiday rush feeling strong, you’ve essentially added another layer to your resilience,” she says.
10. Takeaway links and resources
Throughout the article, Wish TV links readers to:
- Stephanie Mansour’s website – offering downloadable meal plans and a subscription to her newsletter.
- A holiday wellness guide PDF – a printable version of the strategies above.
- Her Instagram page – for daily wellness tips and recipe inspiration.
Bottom line
The “Maintaining Wellness During the Holiday Season” article provides a comprehensive toolkit: from pre‑planning meals and mindful portioning to short workouts and sleep hygiene. By blending science, practical steps, and a dose of empathy, Stephanie Mansour gives readers a realistic roadmap to keep their wellness on track—holiday feast or not. Whether you’re a busy parent, a single traveler, or someone who simply wants to feel energized through the season, this article offers a clear, achievable blueprint for celebrating without compromising health.
Read the Full WISH-TV Article at:
[ https://www.wishtv.com/lifestyle/maintaining-wellness-during-the-holiday-season-with-stephanie-mansour/ ]
