Tuck into these top tips from public health nutritionist, on how to moderate your meals during the festive binge.
In order to beat the festive bloat here are a few tips to not overindulge and help squeeze as many nutrients out of festive feasting as possible.
1) Pace yourself: Don’t start Christmas eating too soon – It’s easy to start indulging on extra calories from foods (and drinks) in the lead up to Christmas. Try sticking to your regular eating habits or make sure that you make healthy swaps rather than calorie additions. So, if you fancy that mince pie perhaps offset your usual mid-morning biscuit or packet of crisps with lunch.
2) Help the hangover with a healthy breakfast – After Christmas partying it may be tempting to skip breakfast the next day. However, having a high-protein veggie filled omelette or berry-packed porridge will help to get you feeling back to your normal old self and is much more satisfying than reaching for any Christmas treats that may be hanging around the office or house.
3) Drink water, and lots of it – During the party season don’t forget to drink water to help stay hydrated and at your best. When enjoying a tipple or two remember to drink water in between alcoholic drinks to avoid headaches and grizzly hangovers.
4) Berry up – We always have bowls of nuts and chocolate around the house during the Christmas festivities, well why not add a couple of bowls of berries as well. Bowls of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries or blueberries by themselves or mixed together will not only provide cosy festive colours, but red berries and blueberries are also proven to boost mood and packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C. So get reaching for the strawberries, just 7 strawberries provide you with your whole recommended daily allowance!
5) Make the most of those extra roasties – If you fancy indulging this Christmas, make sure it’s on vegetables. We tend to eat fewer vegetables during the day than we should. So festive feasting is a great time to top up on veggie nutrients. Remember to eat as many colours as possible such as Brussel sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, and carrots. Your body will thank you.
6) Fats can be good, if you choose the right ones – It’s very easy to go for that extra scoop of ice-cream or that 12th pig in blanket, but do try and keep an eye on your daily sat-fat intake. To beat fatigue and lower the risk of chronic diseases try opting for healthy polyunsaturated fats – things like mixed nuts, seeds and oily fish when you can.
Credit: Seasonalberries.co.uk