Your health: 10 things to do in November

6. Drink green tea
Green tea has a lot going for it. It's a calorie-free, antioxidant-rich thirst quencher that's said to increase your metabolism and help your body burn fat -- and it offers enough caffeine to boost your energy without the extreme highs and lows you get from coffee. Add a cup or two of green tea to your daily routine, whether it be first thing in the morning or as a post-lunch pick-me-up. There's a plethora of varieties available, so try different kinds to find your favourite.

7. Start your Christmas shopping
There's nothing like the stress of an incomplete shopping list to dampen your holiday spirit. Get ahead of the game this month by spending an evening or two placing gift orders online -- you'll beat the rush and leave yourself time in December to enjoy the season (not to mention time to sneak in extra workouts to balance out all the holiday treats).

8. Go for whole grains
Refined grains (think white flour and white rice) gained their popularity mainly because they could be stored for long periods of time without going bad, as opposed to whole grain products, which are much more perishable. However, the process of refining grains strips out the valuable nutrients and fibre that your body needs. Pay attention to your grain intake, and try upping the level of whole grains in your diet by using whole wheat pasta, brown rice and bread made from whole wheat flour. If you (or your family) really prefer the taste of white, then use a blend -- mix white and brown rice or pasta, for instance, or make sandwiches with one slice of white and one slice of whole wheat bread.

9. Get outside
Sure, it's getting chilly out, but that's no reason to start hibernating just yet. Take advantage of any good weather by spending time outdoors. Whether it's cleaning up the yard, jumping in the leaves with your kids or something farther afield like horseback riding or hiking, the fresh air and exercise will do you good -- just make sure to dress for the weather.

10. Downsize your dishes
It's amazing how susceptible we are to the power of persuasion -- study after study shows that people eat more food if it's served on bigger plates, and are satisfied with less when meals are presented on smaller dishes. Take advantage of this trick of psychology by using smaller plates and bowls for your food. You don't have to worry about going hungry -- if you clear your plate and still want more, you can always go back for seconds. But you may be surprised by how much your portion sizes decrease.

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