Tips For Eating Healthy At Christmas

We know that Christmas is a time of excess, so we must learn to control ourselves and, as far as possible, substitute high-calorie foods for healthier ones.

For the vast majority of people, eating healthy at Christmas can be a rest.  This becomes completely normal, since you have the perfect opportunity to get out of the routine, enjoy and release tension. 

Yes, the N christmas it is a time of celebration that, often, also invites to commit excesses of all kinds. And, even if you do not want to admit in the first instance, this can have health consequences. Therefore, it is important to take some precautions. Above all, when it comes to types of food, combinations and quantities.

Tips to eat healthy at Christmas

To help you, here are some tips to eat healthy at Christmas. You will find that it is much easier than you might think.

1. Eat something healthy before leaving home

Are you going to dinner with your co-workers and want to avoid overeating? To do this, the best solution is to have a little salad before leaving home. Yes, as is. A mini salad plate can help you avoid overindulgence at dinner.

You can also have some plain, unsweetened yogurt or a protein shake. Then, at dinner time, you will not be tempted to eat so much, since you will feel somewhat full already.

2. Keep your schedules

Since Christmas meals do not usually follow the same times as our usual meals, it is very easy to mess up our eating pattern.

In these circumstances, keep in mind that if you wait several hours or eat earlier than usual, you will be tempted to help yourself to larger portions and it will be difficult to eat healthy at Christmas. Also, when the time comes when you usually eat regularly, you may be tempted to repeat.

3. Look for foods similar to those of your day to day

Eating healthy at Christmas is key if you suffer from diabetes, hypertension and other conditions. Therefore, it is convenient to pay attention to the subject. This way you will not only avoid complications but also avoid gaining weight.

Make sure you always choose the foods that are closest to your usual diet. If you don’t have the option of eating healthy because all foods consist of fried foods or processed sweets, you can have small portions.

And if there are foods that are steamed or with vegetables, choose them before the fried ones. Your stomach will know how to thank you and, of course, your health!

4. Choose quality over quantity

Instead of eating a lot, without thinking about the nutritional value of food, do the opposite; that is, choose quality over quantity. In this way, it will be much easier for you to eat healthy at Christmas (and on any other special time of the year).

Give priority to proteins and vegetables and try to avoid refined, fried and processed flours. In this way, you can enjoy a good meal, without regrets.

Be careful, eating healthy at Christmas does not mean choosing only vegetables and steamed foods. It’s about evaluating your options well and not succumbing to the first impulse. It’s also about learning when to avoid cravings.

5. Don’t forget to hydrate

Hydration is often neglected. Either because you forget to drink water or because liqueurs are preferred and. The drinks. However, not drinking enough water can promote heavy digestion, constipation, and other discomforts that really don’t suit us in the middle of a celebration.

Every time you feel like you want to repeat, focus on drinking, little by little, a glass of water. In this way, you can avoid that second portion that you are really looking for for gluttony.

6. Don’t overdo it with alcohol

Alcohol and prepared beverages are They are packed with calories, carbohydrates, and lots of sugars, so they can sabotage your purpose of eating healthy.

Avoid these drinks as much as you can. In case you cannot avoid drinking alcohol, choose it mixed only with water,  with or without gas. In this way you reduce the effect on your body and its consumption is more balanced, since you stay hydrated.

Among the prepared drinks, choose those that mix the least amount of ingredients possible . The first ones that you should avoid are those that contain juice, either natural or boxed, since the sugar they provide is too much.

Also, try not to consume syrups since, after the juices, they are the ones that provide the greatest amount of sugar and do not help your purpose of eating healthy at Christmas.

7. Learn to substitute ingredients

Create variations of traditional recipes to make them healthier with the products that you like the most.  You can also substitute traditional sugar that provides a large amount of calories for options like: m honey, syrup  agave, or manuka honey .

The 80/20 rule

One strategy that never fails when trying to eat healthy at Christmas or any other time is the 80/20 rule. This is that 80% of everything you eat and drink is healthy leaving room for the remaining 20% ​​to be cravings.

This rule is very easy to follow and will make the Christmas season more bearable, because you will know that you are allowed to eat whatever you want. However, keep in mind that if you live with a condition that requires a more strict diet, such as diabetes, this strategy is not recommended .