Share This Article
The most wonderful time of the year is here and that means that festive dishes are plentiful. You’ve been meeting your wellness goals, and it now feels like all your efforts are about to go to waste? Let’s face it – desserts and rich foods are unavoidable this time of year! Here are a few ways to indulge and stay healthy so that you don’t have to stress about a do-over in the New Year:
Cook for the heart
Skipping breakfast and lunch knowing you’ll be overindulging later is a bad idea. This habit poses problems for both your blood sugar and waistline. Always be cautious of going without food throughout the day only to binge later. Avoid over-indulgence by eating well-balanced meals for breakfast and lunch before heading out. Help yourself to a protein shake two or three hours before your festive meal.
Select a blend of healthy oils to cook with. Flora contains good fats made from a carefully selected blend of vegetable oils. Swap your salted butter for Flora spreads when cooking, baking, basting and topping. Made from nutrient-rich plants and seed oils, Flora is ideal for a healthy happy heart. Flora also contains more of the better-for-you fats like omega 3 and 6 and less of the not-so-good fat, saturated fat.
Centre the holidays around family and fun
Make the holidays active and interactive. Centre the festive days around fun activities like playing board games or even a game of volleyball. Choose activities that feel good and get everyone involved.
Don’t beat yourself up
Be kinder to yourself. After all, it is the holiday season. If you overindulge, give yourself a break and plan ahead for the next day. Slot in some workout time before the sun rises. Practise mindful eating by eating slowly without getting distracted; focus on feelings of fullness and satisfaction. Your plate should have less brown and white, and more rainbow (think seven colours), especially green.
Make your own festive food
While the holiday season might be in full swing with a table full of decadent holiday food, choose healthy foods you love. Be mindful of eating out of obligation. And on that note, take time to prepare your own food as much as you can. By doing so, you can create healthy alternatives to holiday favourites.
Want more health tips? Click here for more.