The holiday season brings a mixture of emotions and expectations. Whether delightful or stressful, we can embark on this time of year with practices to support our health and well-being.

You can freshen up your holidays with new traditions inspired by our healthy potluck moai groups. Add richness to your holiday meals with meaningful social connections, instead of dollops of extra butter. Extend an invitation to family or new friends and plan an activity that you can all enjoy. Add your own flavor to activities like a potluck at the beach, walking with your group to a healthy restaurant, or learning together with your own holiday cooking class.

Remember to enhance your holiday meal with the Blue Zones Project Power 9 Principles of Plant Slant and the 80% Rule. Fruits and vegetables can share the spotlight at your plant-slanted holiday table. For seasonal produce suggestions, take a look at the American Heart Association's article on Seasonal, Heart-Healthy Holiday Foods. By practicing the 80% Rule, mindfully eat until you're satisfied, not stuffed. Consider these 10 questions to ask your family around the table to encourage sharing stories of gratitude, compassion and purpose.

By participating in Beach Cities Health District opportunities, you are connected to a community dedicated to health and well-being. Whether striding with a walking moai, meditating during a Mindfulness Workshop, or sharing your purpose statement with a friend, there are opportunities year-round to foster meaningful social connections.

We look forward to seeing you in January 2017 to Start the New Year with Purpose with a Volunteer Expo and Power of Purpose Workshop facilitated by Kathleen Terry. For updates, go to bchd.org/purpose or contact Tiana Rideout at tiana.rideout@bchd.org or (310) 374-3426, ext. 139.