As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, our stress levels begin to rise, celebratory outings increase and before we know it, our healthy habits from the summer are taking a plunging dive out the window. This winter avoid the old “I’ll get back on it in the New Year” excuse by following these seven easy stay-fit tips from Ocean Minded Ambassadors, Hailey and Sierra Partridge. Step into the New Year on the right foot and enjoy a guilt-free holiday season.
Stay in shape this holiday season with these 7 healthy tips from the Partridge twins. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
1. Eat Seasonal Winter Fruits and Vegetables. Just because the beautiful and bountiful fruits of summer are no longer around doesn’t mean you should skimp on produce in the winter. Some of our favorite wintertime picks are persimmons, apples, pears, beets, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and winter squash. Here is our easy soup recipe with my favorite winter squash, butternut squash. This soup is simple to make and especially comforting in the winter time.
Easy Winter Butternut Squash Soup | Photo provided by the Partridge twins
Easy Winter Butternut Squash Soup
2 medium butternut squash
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 medium granny smith apple, chopped (leave the skin on)
4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
6 – 8 fresh sage leaves
Pinch of nutmeg
Olive oil
Soft goat cheese (optional)
Cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil, roast in a 375 degree oven for about 45 minutes to an hour, until the squash is tender. Once the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh from the skin.
In a large stock pot, sauté the garlic, onion and apple in a small amount of olive oil for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Next add the roasted butternut squash, chicken or vegetable broth, sage leaves and the pinch of nutmeg and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for about 10 – 15 minutes. Then use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree until smooth. Serve with a small amount of goat cheese on top.
2. Skip The Fancy Lattes: Not only are the pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas out there expensive, but they are also full of massive amounts of sugar and added chemicals. Save money and a sugar rush by making your own at home.
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
1 cup unsweetened almond, cashew or regular milk
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (find in the spice aisle, or use equal parts cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and nutmeg)
1 teaspoon of honey, coconut sugar or raw sugar
2 shots of espresso or about ½ cup of brewed coffee
Combine the first three ingredients in a mug and heat in the microwave or on the stove. If you have a milk frother or aero latte, use that to froth the milk. Then add either espresso or coffee. Enjoy while watching the waves before your morning surf!
Cozy up with a guilt-free, tasty latte this holiday season. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
3. Take a Yoga Class. We especially enjoy taking a Bikram yoga class or hot yoga class in the cold winter months. It can be especially chilly in the winter, but after a really warm yoga class, you are sure to feel nice and warm. After the class, you can slip into the luxurious and functional Ocean Minded Aolani boots, which are sure to keep your feet toasty long after your yoga class is over.
Take a break from the stressful holiday season with a nice, relaxing yoga class. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
4. Beach Clean Up. If, by chance, there are no waves when you go to the beach, why not pick up some trash and clean up the beach? A beach clean up is a great way to help protect our beaches and, as Ocean Minded ambassadors, this is something we’re very passionate about. In addition to helping the environment, a beach clean up is also a great way to get easy exercise. Whenever you’re doing a beach clean up, there is the chance that you could encounter dangerous objects like sharp metal or broken glass. Protect your feet by wearing a durable and sturdy sandal like the Ocean Minded Seaweed III.
The Partridge Twins always bring their Ocean Minded Seaweed Sandals with them for surf sessions and beach cleanups. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
5. Avoid Overindulging at Parties. Always plan ahead before you go to a holiday party because likely they tend to be low on vegetables and full of sugary drinks and tasty treats. Before you go to a party, make sure you are hydrated by drinking water and also eat a small salad or cut up veggies with a small amount of protein such as hummus, almonds or a hard-boiled egg. This way, you get to the party and you’re not famished so you can even enjoy a few small treats knowing you had something nourishing before the party.
Holiday happiness with the twins. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
6. Sign Up for a Race after the Holidays. This will help keep you motivated and working towards a goal throughout the holiday season. We have both signed up for a 10k in the beginning of March, so we will certainly be going on runs throughout the winter.
Sierra after the She Is Beautiful run in Santa Barbara, California. || Photo provided by the Partridge twins
7. Take up a Winter Sport. Snowboarding and skiing are our favorites, mostly because they’re so fun it doesn’t feel like exercise. You can even snowshoe or sled to keep up with your exercise routine in the winter. Another perk of winter sports is hanging out with friends after a long day on the slopes. We love to wear our Ocean Minded Ruffout Chukka Wedge for a night out. They are comfortable enough to wear after a long day in the snow, yet they are stylish enough to go from day to night.
The twins love the Ocean Minded RuffOut Chukka Wedge. Photo courtesy of Ocean Minded
