Christmas is a time for catching up with friends and enjoying time with family. However this usually means more party food, more alcohol and less exercise. Remain healthy this Christmas season by following the handy hints below and remember that being healthy doesn’t mean going without!
1) Plan your Christmas menu with some yummy fresh seafood, seasonal fruits and lean meat like turkey and chicken breast (without the skin)! Make the table colourful with a few different side salads to help fill you up.
2) When you’re not catching up with friends be sure to stick to your usual healthy routine and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to keep up your daily quota, given that you will probably be eating less on the weekends and at Christmas parties!
3) Alcohol contains lots of calories. Try using soda water and fresh lime as a mixer if you like spirits or add soda water to wine to help it go further and reduce the total calorie intake. Order a glass of water in between drinks to stay well hydrated.
4) Keep up the physical activity! Get outdoors to the beach or take the family to the park. The weather can get hot during the day so take advantage of the long day light hours and go for a walk with the family in the evening.
5) Try to position yourself away from the food table and be mindful of your hunger and satiety cues. Choose better nibble choices such as vegetable sticks and low fat dip (like hummus or beetroot dip (see below) or go for a small handful of mixed unsalted nuts.
Healthy Christmas recipes to come over the next 2 weeks…… stay tuned….
