Some great tips to help you stay healthy but still enjoy your Christmas:
- Start Christmas day with a healthy breakfast
- Drink plenty of water – Still or sparkling, add a squeeze of lime for fun!
- Snack on juicy satsumas
- Walk after Christmas lunch – 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least 5 days a week helps to prevent over 20 health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and mental health problems.
- Cut your potatoes or parsnips bigger for roasting – Larger ones absorb less fat during roasting. Parboil, brush with some olive or vegetable oil and finish off in the oven.
- Make bread sauce with skimmed milk – Add a clove of garlic to the milk for extra flavour.
- Don’t use fat to make gravy – For low fat gravy, pour the turkey juices in to a jug and wait for the fat to rise to the surface. Spoon off the fat before using the juices to make gravy.
- Before you start, plan your Christmas menu and shop accordingly – The more food on offer the more we tend to eat, decide what you are going to have and stick to a few smart choices rather than trying everything.
- Select the healthier items first – you will add less of the higher calorie alternatives later.
- Don’t go to a Christmas Party hungry – Having a small snack (like wholegrain cereal or fruit and low fat yogurt) before a party will prevent you from drinking on an empty stomach. If you don’t arrive hungry you’re less likely to overindulge on higher calorie foods.
- Be aware of liquid calories – Opt for smaller wine glasses, switch from pints to half pints and measure rather than pour spirits. Remember if you do overindulge in alcoholic drinks, drink plenty of water before you go to bed and keep more by your bedside, as rehydration is key to help reduce the effects of a hangover.
And overall…
#behealthybehappy
