Although it seems difficult, the truth is that in the Christmas season, it is possible to eat healthy and avoid the typical excesses of these holidays. Clearly, there are some family reunions where we may eat and drink more of the bill, but we have to be aware of what we are eating at all times to be able to compensate. And this is the key word: compensate.
Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or Kings’ Day are the celebrations that usually involve family reunions in which you eat the most, but, as difficult as it may seem, there are some tips to eat healthy at Christmas and that, during these dates, you don’t take extra kilos. We will tell you about them!
How to eat healthy at Christmas?
At Christmas, we usually get pounds because we allow it. Mentally we tell each other, it’s okay, it’s Christmas, and, with this excuse, we allow ourselves to eat nougats, powders, or chocolate chocolates at any time of the day. But if you want to eat healthy at Christmas, the first thing you have to do is control that thought and not allow yourself so many whims.
Here we leave you some good tips for you to learn to eat healthy at Christmas and also enjoy the holidays.
It pays off
The key word is to make up. And we know that, as much as we want, at a family reunion it can be difficult not to drink or not to eat too much. On these occasions, what is the best we can do? Compensate. If you know you’re going to dinner harder at night, that day’s meal make it lighter and add a time of sports exercise to burn more calories.
The next day, do the same thing: eat healthier and play sports to eliminate excesses. NOTE: with this, we don’t mean you don’t eat, because you have to eat to avoid going too hungry; all we indicate is that you control more what you eat before and after dinner so you can give you more whims at the gathering.
Also included techniques used to cook each dish, especially those for special days. Try to apply steam, baked or grill cooking techniques and thus avoid large amounts of oil in fries, sauces, or stews, which always have large caloric inputs.
Controls alcohol intakes
One of the things we usually do most when we are at Christmas parties is to increase alcohol consumption in spirits, and digestive shots on the desks and the result of this are excessive food intake because alcohol disinhibits and therefore also reduces our self-control. The effects of all this will be a few kilos of more insured and side effects on our health.
To continue with the celebration it is best to opt for glasses of red wine, cava, and even beer.
Includes light food at Christmas
If you have to make a meal or dinner during the holidays, prepare a more healthy menu: include salads, fruits, reduced fats, sauces, etc. Turn the typical party menu around and bet on preparing a tasty but light meal.
A Menu Proposal:
Starters: varied salad, vegetable cream, hummus, grilled seafood, etc.
Main dish: baked fish with grilled vegetables, lemon-baked chicken, brown rice with vegetables, etc.
Dessert: fruit salad, nuts with dark chocolate, etc.
Do more sport
It is clear that, in order to avoid gaining weight this Christmas, we must increase calorie spending. So, if you usually do 3 days a week exercise, increase now and do 5 days a week; in this way, your body will burn more calories weekly and those Christmas excesses won’t be noticed so much on your scale. Also, try to adopt healthier habits like climbing the stairs, cycling, walking whenever you can, etc.
Controls Quantities
Sometimes, at these parties, the problem is not what we eat, but how much we eat. Therefore, avoid reaching dinners or meals too hungry and, if you feel hungry when you leave home, eat something light (fruit, yogurt, etc.). Try not to repeat and check that the amount you put on the plate is not excessive.
Likewise, avoid fasting before meals on holidays, it can be counterproductive because being more hungry, translates into bigger binges.
Enjoy Christmas, but above all, take care of your health through your diet and a little exercise. Have long conversations, try a little snack for about half an hour before sitting down to eat the main course, and eat slower so your stomach is satisfied faster.