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By Lauren Wellbank
THE NEW YEAR CAN BRING NEW WORRIES ABOUT GERMS, ILLNESSES, AND ALL THOSE HOLIDAY COOKIE-RELATED POUNDS.
As we turn the page on the calendar and get ready to start fresh in 2022, a lot of parents may find themselves asking a familiar question: how can I keep myself and my family healthy? Flu season, surging Covid-19 cases, and your regular run-of-the-mill health concerns can cause parental anxiety to spike. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to keep you and your baby healthy in the new year.
Eat Right
A balanced diet is one of the best ways to support your health. This is especially true for new and expectant moms. As you already know, everything you eat helps nourish your growing baby, which is why experts all recommend that pregnant women eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods that are high in all of the vitamins pregnant women need (like this Quinoa Avocado Salad with Buttermilk Dressing, which packs both flavor and folate, an important supplement for pregnancy).
If you’re recovering from childbirth or breastfeeding, keeping yourself full of foods that will help you boost your immune system and pump your breast milk full of nutrients is also important (we can’t get enough of these Shrimp Fajitas, which can help nursing moms get the iodine they need in their diet). If you’re struggling to follow a balanced diet, a one-on-one nutrition session could help.
Exercise
Signing up for a gym membership is often a top resolution for a reason. Getting regular exercise can not only help you look better, but by maintaining an active lifestyle you may also feel better. Plus, getting your blood pumping for at least 30 minutes a day is shown to improve your cardiovascular health. A healthy heart is the key to a healthy (and happy) life.
Prioritize Your Mental Health
You’ve probably heard the saying, “If mom ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” It’s a popular phrase for a reason. Prioritizing your mental health can help improve the mental health of those around you.
While pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting time in a family’s life, there are still plenty of people who struggle with depression and anxiety as a result of it. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders can change the way new and expectant moms feel about everything from pregnancy to the newborn days. When you add into it the emotional letdown that is the end of a bright and exciting holiday season and the cold and sometimes lonely days of winter, many people find themselves feeling blue. Keep your mental health a priority in the new year.
Avoid High-Risk Scenarios
One of the best ways to stay healthy is to avoid situations that can jeopardize your health. That can mean everything from being extra cautious about your bump (and staying home when you know the roads are going to be dangerous due to wintery conditions) to being mindful of water safety (never leave your new baby alone in a bathtub). While not every risk is avoidable, some are easier to stay away from than others.
Have Fun
It’s easy to get caught up in the rigorous rules and planning that come along with staying healthy and safe, but that doesn’t mean you should forego fun. Yes, eating cookie dough ice cream topped with whipped cream and peanut butter cups isn’t a good idea if you’re doing it every night, but every once in a while won’t hurt. The same can be said for skipping your spin class in favor of snuggling up on the couch with the remote.
While you’re making your plans for the new year and trying to figure out how to keep your growing family healthy, remember to make time for the things you enjoy.
Happy New Year from Preg Appetit!