Tips for a healthy Christmas

With Christmas knocking at the door is important not to forget health and fitness. Avoid excessive weight gain. Here are some tips to live this season in a healthier way!

To have the energy to prepare and enjoy Christmas to the fullest start the day with a nutritious breakfast. It should ideally include a source of: 1) high-fibre wholegrain cereals (bread or breakfast cereal); 2) calcium (milk, yogurt or cheese); and 3) vitamins and minerals (a portion of fruit).

It is also important not to stay more than 3 hours without eating. Have small meals between the main meals so that you do not become hungry, which is the main enemy of thoughtful and healthy food choices.

At lunch and dinner do not go without a vegetable soup, salads and cooked vegetables. Always start these meals with a bowl of soup and accompany the main course with salad or cooked vegetables. Use your imagination and create colorful salads! Replace salt for seasoning with herbs and use low calorie seasonings like lemon and vinegar.

The options are usually only two for the main course: cod or turkey. The cod should be thoroughly soaked before cooking in order to remove any excess salt. If you choose turkey, remove all visible fat on the plate.

Sweets should preferably be eaten after meals. Place small portions on a dessert dish so that you can sample a little bit of them all!

When preparing the food, particularly the Christmas desserts, use vegetable fats instead of animal fats. Also, when making the fried foods that are very common among the Christmas desserts, let the fat drain off after frying and then place them on paper towels to absorb the excess fat. Try not to make large amounts so that you are not left with many leftovers.

Dried fruits and nuts are very common at Christmas and are a great source of omega-3, but they are also very fattening, so eat them in moderation.As for drinks, the best option is always water as this is the best way to remain hydrated and it has no added sugars and zero calories! If you consume alcohol do not forget that it should be consumed in moderation (2 drinks for men and 1 drink for women) and accompanying meals. Alcoholic drinks are strongly discouraged for children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

In addition to healthy eating at Christmas, we should not forget the role of physical exercise, which is so important in burning off the extra calories consumed. Do not spend too many hours sitting at the table or on the sofa. Try to go on family walks, dancing to Christmas songs and let your children play, as this is the best way to get rid of calories!

It now only depends on you to take all this into consideration in order to make your Christmas healthier!