Having a healthy festive season is easier than you think and by following a few healthy guidelines the majority of the time, you will find it easier to maintain good energy levels and well being for all the Christmas shopping and parties. You will also reduce the risk of coming down with bugs if your immune system is boosted with good nutrition, enabling you to enjoy the festive season all the more. Here are our healthy Christmas tips:
- Choose the turkey option: Turkey is a really healthy meat, it is high in protein and low in fat. It is also high in tryptophan which is the precursor to serotonin - the happy hormone!
- Pile on the green vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and cabbage are full of vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients - plant chemicals which have been shown to help protect the body from disease. Having plenty of green vegetables will leave less room for potatoes and parsnips.
- Say no to seconds: Listen to your hunger and appetite signals, eat meals slowly and enjoy the food. Have a break for 5 minutes if the meal is very large, this will help the 'satiety' signals to catch up.
- Don't go mad on the chocolates: The chocolate tin in the office can be tempting, especially when it is waved under your nose. I find it is helpful to not ban chocolate completely but limit them to 1-2 small chocolates per day if you need to (dark if possible), ensure you have it soon after lunch or dinner to help blood sugar balance but do try to avoid having chocolate in the morning as this will set up for more cravings later.
- Snack on tangerines and raw nuts: These are really festive foods and packed with nutrition, having citrus fruit after a meal can help quell cravings for sweets.
- Avoid Christmas buffets: They are often loaded with bad fats and processed carbohydrates. If you do attend then go for the raw vegetable crudities and dips. You will be thankful for it afterwards
- Red wine is the healthy drink of choice but its health benefits decline after 1-2 glasses, drink a small glass of water between each alcoholic drink, this will help relieve the liver and reduce hangover symptoms!
- Choose soda water or mineral water as mixers, stay away from sugary mixers such as coke and lemonade.
- And lastly.....if you are not managing to get the to gym, arrange your day so that you can fit in a 20 minute brisk walk to help burn off the extra calories and give the immune system a boost.
Remember, Christmas is just one day and one meal so don't use it as an excuse to go bonkers for a month, enjoy yourself but don't go mad!