Staying healthy over Christmas

Christmas can be a time when rules go out the window as far as looking after yourself and your health are concerned.

Here are some tips to try and be healthy over Christmas.

You can still enjoy your favourite foods

It’s all about moderation. Turkey in itself is a lean, high protein meat, and of course, it goes without saying that veggies are good for us too. It’s the slathering of butter or sauce that makes it so high in calories.

Opt for homemade instead of processed foods. Premade foods are full of excess salt and sugar that you can avoid by making the dishes yourself. Making the food from scratch will also make you much more aware of what you’re eating and when, giving you more control and awareness in the long run.

Add more vegetables

Increase the number of vegetable dishes on the dinner table, finding small twists to dress them up without making them unhealthy.

You could also serve vegetables first — like a salad starter or a vegetable-based crudites while people are waiting for Christmas dinner.

Moderation

By eating healthy at other meals, you can afford to go all out for a few big events.

Eat small snacks during the day, and have three medium meals instead of three extra-large ones. This will improve your digestion and reduce the amount you’re eating, both during meal times and overall.

Take a walk after dinner

Walking after a meal can give you several distinct benefits. First, you can get exercise at a time when you might not otherwise be exercising as frequently. It can also provide some quiet alone time to destress and help your digestion all at once. All of these factors combined are good for your physical and mental health. Walking immediately after a meal is better than waiting even an hour.

Don’t forgo exercise

It’s important to maintain regular exercise for both your mental and physical health. Make sure to wear decent shoes!

Try to stick to your normal sleep schedule

This can be difficult and some nights you can find yourself tossing and turning, especially after long days.

However, sticking to your sleep schedule will improve your quality of sleep both now and after the Christmas. Studies have shown that, unsurprisingly, irregular sleep schedules can lead to poor sleep quality, fatigue, poor eating habits, and daytime sleepiness that can take time to reverse. Avoid this by going to bed and waking up as close to the same time as you usually do.

Take time for yourself

The holidays are full of family and friends, and while this can be a great thing, it can also be draining and stressful. Remember to take time every day for yourself. Go for a walk, meditate once a day, or offer to go Tesco for groceries.

Happy Christmas and wishing you all the best for 2022.