Christmas is a time to be with loved ones, and stuff our faces full of food. OK, not really. But for many of us, overindulging comes with the Christmas territory. But if you'd rather see the New Year in without the Old Year's bloat, then check out our tips for a healthy festive time:
1. Have a healthy breakfast
Champagne breakfast, anyone? While we should all feel free to treat ourselves every now and then, having a healthy breakfast throughout the Christmas break can help you start the day out right. Whether it's a bowl of porridge, some eggs and toast, or a bowl of fruit salad with some yogurt and protein, choose healthy filling foods that help keep your appetite stable throughout the day.
2. Give yourself an indulge day
During Christmas, the days tend to blur together – and so do the mealtimes. To stop endless snacking, give yourself one meal of indulgence. Perhaps it's Christmas lunch or dinner, or a feast on Christmas Eve. Knowing that you have a time to overindulge without guilt, may help you stay on track with eating and exercise during the festive period.
3. Drink plenty of water
Christmas drinking and the heat of summer. Not always the safest combination! So if you're planning to drink alcohol and spend Christmas outdoors, it's wise to stay hydrated. You could drink a glass of water for every glass of booze, for example. Stay in the shade, and remember to slip, slop, slap, wrap – even on overcast or rainy days.
4. Avoid food contamination
Hosting Christmas lunch, keeping leftovers, cramming the fridge full of food… it's no wonder why there's a spike in contamination cases over the festive period. It's really important to follow food safety guidelines at Christmas (and all year round, of course). Keep the fridge below 5 degrees Celsius; wash your hands thoroughly before handling food; keep raw food away from cooked food; and if you're cooking a bird, be sure to defrost is properly and cook it all the way through.
5. Get active
A walk on the beach. Swimming in the ocean or a pool. Taking the dog to the park. Playing beach cricket... There are loads of fun ways to stay active over Christmas. It's natural to want to take a break from your regular routine, but try to incorporate some exercise into the holidays, so you start the New Year healthy and happy.
Originally published on Dec 05, 2016
