For some, calories might not count over Christmas, but for others, they might not want to let all their hard work go to waste over these few weeks. If you want to enjoy your festive feasting without going too overboard, here are some easy tips you can use to stay healthy over Christmas.
Practise Portion Control
When faced with a giant smorgasbord of delicious Christmas foods, your initial reaction might be to grab a plate and pile it as high as possible with everything you can see. Before you stuff yourself silly though, try to practise portion control and eat slowly so you can listen to your body and stop when you’re full.
Some tips with portion control:
- Load up on fresh salads, veggies and fruit. As they’re low in calories but high in nutrients, you can eat more and get more bang for your calorie buck.
- Australian Christmas often means plenty of fresh seafood on the table. Opt for raw, boiled, steamed or grilled seafood over heavier meats as it’s lower in calories but still high in protein.
- As a rule of thumb for portion control on the go, start with a palm-size of protein, 1-2 fists of veggies or salad and a cupped fist of fried sides, and see how you feel after.
Limit The Sauces
If you’re counting calories this festive season, sauces are a big one to watch. Lacking in most nutrients but high in cals, sauces can be the sneaky calorie bomb that throws your counting all out of whack. If you’ve got a craving for a little sauce on your Christmas feast, try and stick to about a finger of sauce per plate, and don’t forget to track it!
Choose Low-Cal Alcoholic Drinks
Last week we wrote a blog about eight low-cal bevvies to enjoy over the festive period, but here’s a quick recap for you. Swap the sugary cocktails for spirit-forward ones like a martini to cut the cals, choose soda water or diet soft drinks as mixers and go for a glass of white wine or champagne if you’re a wine drinker. Always drink responsibly as well, as the more alcohol you drink, the more your body will bloat and retain water, and the more likely you are to overindulge in food as well! Plus, nobody wants to waste one of their days off nursing a horrible hangover.
Drink Lots Of Water
All those toasts during the festive period mean you’re most likely going to drink more than usual, and all the feasting generally means you’ll be eating different foods to what you usually do as well. Grazing platters and table snacks are usually pretty salty, adding to the dehydration caused by all those extra champagnes. Make sure you’re drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, especially if you’re toasting to 2020 under the hot Australian sun.
Eat MACROS Meals Between Feasts
If you do get a little carried away at Christmas lunch, don’t stress about it. After all, it is a time for celebrating! When you’re not feasting with friends, let us take care of your nutrition and diet for you with our healthy, ready-made meals. Nutritionally-balanced and portion-controlled, it’ll give your body a chance to process all the festive food while still giving your body everything it needs to thrive. Plus, who can be bothered cooking after a big night with family and friends anyway?
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