10 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER CHRISTMAS
Christmas time is typically pleasant and normally calls for overindulgence of food and drinks. It’s a time when we more or less forget about our healthy habits, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way.
There are ways we can be a bit more caring with our bodies so we don’t start the New Year feeling guilty about our choices. With this in mind, here are 10 top tips that will help you have a healthier Christmas season:
- Choose wisely. Reaching for those chocolates or pies does sound rather appealing, but remember, that extra sugar overload is only going to cause havoc on your body and can leave you moody for the rest of the merrymaking. Clearly, we all want treats over Christmas, but try to eat more protein and vegetables during the meal so you feel less in need for a large portion of a sweet dessert. To do so, take a pick of a couple seasonal favorites to indulge on instead of foods that you can have any other time of the year.
- Think colour. Make your plate look festive by including vibrant fruits and veggies. When you sit down for a meal, aim to cover half the plate with colorful fruit and vegetable dishes. Afterwards, you will feel much better about leaving you plate clean!
- Don’t skip meals. The idea that you’re cutting back on calories by leaving out a meal before a holiday celebration is a BIG mistake and can frequently lead to stuffing yourself due to a starving appetite. However, having a nourishing snack, such as a piece of fruit, cubed feta cheese, some olives, yogurt or a handful of nuts, can help satisfy your cravings and prevent overeating.
- Add a healthy dish. Make sure at least one wholesome choice is available at any get-together by providing a healthy dish. Even if the rest of the day is a bit naughty, a healthy dish will give you a dose of wonderful fats, antioxidants and protein leaving you and your acquaintances nicely satisfied.
- Enjoy seasonal treats. Having festive treats during the holiday season will not affect your weight, as long as you don’t make it an everyday habit. Therefore, when you do indulge, be mindful and take time in really savoring each tasty morsel.
- Select drinks sensibly. Focus on calorie-free beverages, such as water, tea or seltzer, instead of high-calorie or alcoholic drinks like egg-nog, hot chocolate or cocktails. Alcohol contributes empty calories, causes dehydration and weakens our cells and organs such as the liver and brain. Dehydration will make you feel sluggish physically and mentally, give you dry skin, headaches and may lead to overeating! So, if you do plan on drinking over Christmas, think about extra liver supporting foods and herbs like garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables (Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, broccoli), dandelion root, artichoke leaf and extra B vitamins. Furthermore, it’s much better to sip your beverage and don’t forget to alternate each drink with a refreshing glass of filtered water.
- Visit people, not food. Spread the joy and laughter by moving around as much as possible throughout the celebration, greeting family and friends as you do so. Shift the socializing further away from the buffet and distance yourself from the appetizer table to prevent mindless eating.
- Eat until you are satisfied, not full. No one likes that awful, stuffed feeling after a meal. Eat slowly, chew well and take pleasure in every bite. It’s also ideal to check your fullness levels while you’re eating. It is quite a challenge during Christmas, but we can try to be a bit more conscious of our impact by reducing how much we consume. We can also buy our food from local farmers who pasture raise their animals and grow their produce either organically or using natural fertilisers. This is not only healthier for you and the animals, but better for the planet. Remember, there are always leftovers and time to eat them another day!
- Exercise! Getting your blood flowing is an excellent way to shed off extra calories from those rich holiday dishes. There are many ways to do this, from a brisk winter walk to cycling or even doing some yoga. Any way you prefer to increase your heart rate and activity rate, as long as you’re moving. It will boost your metabolism and raise your self-esteem. You will also notice that you will enjoy Christmas feasting a lot more.
- Don’t feel guilty. If you did eat too much, don’t be hard on yourself about it. Just make sure your next meal is healthy, and be sure to incorporate some exercise into your routine.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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