That's Fit

Air travel with children pretty much defines the ultimate in stress. But upon touching down last night for our two-week vacation in our native California, my husband and I were marveling at how much easier air travel has become now that our daughter is 3. It's downright pleasant, in fact. No packs of diapers to haul or awkward toys. One change of clothes is enough. But then there's the stroller and that darn car seat. Seems the kids need them until they're 12 now. And we have to have one for the car once we come down from the sky.

Until the car seat is in its rightful place, lugging it around can be an awfully annoying chore. A handy carrying case with wheels has been our salvation during the past three years of nearly thrice yearly trips back and forth from the East to West coast to maintain family relationships outside of Facebook. There are many variations on the concept.

But of course there's something better now. Just like getting a new cell phone right before the newest, coolest one comes out, baby gear seems to get better just a little too late to be able to take advantage. Parents can now use one piece of equipment that does double duty as a stroller and a car seat. It tows car seat size kids around just like a suitcase on wheels in this very cool contraption. Just when I was feeling a little bit good about how much easier our airport lives had become, turns out we're way behind the times. I'm going to drown my sorrows in the pool now.

One of the daily stresses all of us deal with is eating. How much, how often, and what kind of food to eat as well as shopping for it, going out for it, having it delivered or preparing it all take up a fair chunk of our time. Eating healthy helps reduce stress in myriad ways, but doing that can be stressful in and of itself. And winter is a time when it's often tough for many of us to make healthy choices.

Here's a solution: Make a big pot of healthy soup you can have for various meals all week long. Or you can freeze portions for later. I got the following recipe from a friend and it got me through last week feeling satisfied and energized.

1 whole chicken, boiled and then meat removed
1 bunch each of collard greens and Swiss chard, chopped and boiled separately, then added to soup
varied amounts of green beans, chopped carrots, corn and celery
1 chopped onion
1 or 2 cans kidney beans
ground turmeric, salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!

While shopping online for friends and family, I found this interesting article about healthy stress-reducing gifts for the holiday season. Some of them are kind of pricey, but the tips also include thrifty alternatives that are still really neat! You never know, you may find one of these ideas perfect for a gift to yourself. Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

Giving the gift of nutrition can take many forms. Apples in the stocking (just kidding) or that popular waist-management book You: On A Diet make great presents. But what about giving the gift of a registered dietitian? Your loved ones start out by weighing in and getting a full medical history. Body fat percentages and metabolic rates are all tallied. The big payoff is a personalized menu and plan for weight loss that includes realistic targets, gains and goals. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

It's not cheap though. The initial consultation could run you up $125 an hour. A less-expensive alternative, however, could be even more personalized if you put effort into it. Why not create a custom healthy cookbook? I can speak from experience, because sites like Lulu.com help by putting together and publishing a really professional-looking product. You could include some of your own healthy recipes or find new ones off the Internet. Be creative!

The holidays are almost over but that doesn't mean that the stress is gone from your life. Sure, you can relax now that you don't have to rush around finding the perfect gifts and planning fabulous feasts. But there's still the stress of every day life, which might be intensified by those holiday bills.

Now that you have some extra time, it's the perfect opportunity to start de-stressing. De-stressing is easy -- it's just finding the time for yourself that presents a problem for many. Here are some tips: laugh, cry, exercise, meditate, eat well and sleep. These are all things that help us relax and help us feel better every day. And for further inspiration, check out our Stress Less feature.

What tips do you have on de-stressing?