Six ways to be healthier over Christmas
A healthy diet and lifestyle can really take a hammering over Christmas. From family dinners, to work Christmas parties, to end of year get-togethers. there are plenty of opportunities to over-indulge this silly season. So what can you do to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle this Christmas? Our team has a few ideas:
Snack sensibly
You’ll no doubt be inundated with meals over the holiday season, but whatever you do don’t skip a meal and go to a party because you’re worried that you’ll overdo it on the calories. Having a light snack before a Christmas party will reduce the likelihood that you’ll be unable to resist the endless canapés that’ll be tempting you before the main meal even begins.
Make sure you’re eating enough fruit and vege
Enjoy those wonderful Christmas proteins but why not fill your plate with vegetables or salad first? By doing so you’ll be able to ensure that you get enough greens over Christmas. This approach also leaves less room for other not so healthy food choices. We have a number of vege-rich salad recipes on our website for you to check out.
Listen to your body
Over the festive season you’re going to be confronted with plenty of delicious food. You don’t need to let this be an excuse to loose touch with your hunger. Your body gives you plenty of hunger cues - listen to them! Do the 20 minute test before you go for seconds. Finish eating your food, if you’re still hungry after 20 minutes then go back for seconds. By eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re satisfied you’ll be less likely to overindulge.
Keep up the exercise
Being active over the break will help you counter the effects of all those festive feasts. From visiting the gym, to playing a game of backyard cricket, going for a swim, or walking the dog - take up any opportunity to get moving. Staying active is a great way to stay happy and healthy. Find something that works for you and stick to it!
Ease up on the alcohol
If you enjoy a tipple be aware that alcohol will influence your food choices and add extra calories that you’ll need to burn off. Keep water close at hand so that there is another option. Add herbs and fruit to your water to flash it up a little.
Don’t stress
‘Tis the season to be jolly’ but jolly is the last thing many of us feel when confronted by endless to do lists, Christmas cleaning, and meals to organise. While we’ve talked about the importance of being mindful and watching what you’re eating, it’s Christmas and you should be able to enjoy and eat without guilt. Keep things in perspective and go easy on yourself as having a healthy relationship with our food is one of the best things we can do to feel happy and healthy. Above all else, Christmas is only one day out of 365 and it isn’t worth stressing over. Enjoy your time spent with family, friends, and other loved ones.
Christmas Recipes
Christmas for many, evokes memories of delicious meals shared amongst family and friends, so we have bundled together our favourite festive recipes and put them all in one place. From delicious starters to the main event, we hope to help take the guess work out of your Christmas menu this year. You can check out our full list of Christmas recipes here.
We’ve selected a few of our favourites below. Click the images to get the recipe.
