I’m a huge fan of Christmas! There’s nothing I love more than celebrating with my family and friends while we spend time together over food and drinks.
I love honouring foodie traditions passed down through generations and finding joy in creating festive dishes full of flavour. However, as a Nutritionist I am often asked by my clients for advice about what to eat and drink at this time of year.
The answer – enjoying food and drink at Christmas should definitely be your focus!
For many people, Christmas comes with guilt around excess and over-indulgence. Don’t worry! Your health status is more affected by your diet and lifestyle over the course of the entire year, rather than simply what you consume between Christmas and New Year.
Rather than avoiding certain foods, or feeling pressure to ‘earn’ your mince pies through extreme exercise or pre-Christmas diets, I am sharing my 5 Top Tips to Enjoying the Festive Period while maintaining your health.
Mindful Drinking
It’s true that wine and beer contain lots of calories (a medium glass of wine has 160 calories!). How do you feel about setting yourself a number of drinks to enjoy before you arrive at a party? Even if you don’t stick to it, you’ll be more mindful about how many of your favourite drinks you are consuming across the evening.
Alternating alcoholic drinks with water, soda water or sugar-free soft drinks is a good move, and if Kombucha is on offer you can try that as your tipple . (Kombucha is an alcohol- free bubbly that is packed full of probiotics to boost your gut health while you are out celebrating!)
Eat Before You Party!
This time of year there are endless yummy treats on offer at parties. It is not uncommon for women to restrict food across the day if they know they will be feasting at a party later. However, this just means you will arrive hungry and be more likely to graze endlessly on canapes and snacks.
How about eating a healthy meal or snack before you head out? Including some healthy protein and fats will help you stay full for longer. Lean proteins such as chicken and healthy fats such as avocados, nuts and seeds are your pre-party allies.
Dishes That Pack A Nutritional Punch
Choosing vegetable and salad dishes where available over the festive period is a great way to ensure that you are consuming plenty of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fibre as you party.
Think about loading up half your plate with rainbow veg, fruit or salads. They will keep you feeling fuller for longer and help you reach your 5 a day target over Christmas and New Year.
Good vs Bad???
Its true that some foods on offer at parties this time of year – like sausages and salamis – have high levels of saturated fats, salt and preservatives which are linked to poorer health outcomes. However, food is not just good vs bad, or equivalent to fuel. Joining together to eat at social occasions has lots of proven benefits and can increase happiness! One slice of salami will not kill you!
Sneaky Portion Sizes
Festive menus often include bigger than normal portion sizes. Don’t worry if you have eaten past the point of fullness, this is not abnormal. Your health will not be harmed by what you consume in one single meal.
It’s a great time of year to enjoy these festive treats and indulge yourself in the joy they bring. If you are full, but still want to enjoy a desert, how about sharing something with friends? This adds to the sense of social occasion and celebration. Or look for ‘small bites’ as a dessert option which are often offered as part of coffee menus.
I would love to hear from you. What are your top tips for staying healthy at this time of year? Reply @alimorpeth_nutrition or contact me via my website.
Bio
Ali is a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) meaning she meets the highest standards in nutrition science training, competence and professional practice set out by the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN).
She is also a Certified Nutrition Coach and has a Masters in Public Health (Health Promotion). For 15 years Ali has worked with global food manufacturers including Nestle and Unilever, the UN and international charities developing their nutrition policies and behaviour change programmes.
As well as her public health delivery, Ali supports private clients on a one to one basis and delivers corporate wellness packages to businesses across the UK.
The eating before going to any party/event is such a good idea, we often think that we should just eat at the venue but it really does more harm to us than good.
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