Not all Christmas food is as unhealthy as you thought.
Do you go mad on Christmas Day? Start early with the champagne (guilty!) open a tin of assorted chocolates. Hit the mince pies before the turkey is on the table.
Would you be surprised to hear that the average adult eats their way through about 3,500 calories on Christmas Day. I was shocked but not completely surprised as I am sure I have managed that number of calories in the past.
Christmas is about family, fun, food and festive cheer for many people. You don’t want to be worrying about food calories or saying no to another mince pie because you are wanting to lose weight or eat healthy for most of the year.
Believe it or not there are foods you can eat on Christmas Day that are actually pretty good for you. Of course I am not expecting you to overload your plates, but just bear in mind that eating them won’t break the bank on your calories or healthy eating habits.
Turkey
Turkey is the mainstay of many Christmas Day meals. Very little fat and mainly pure protein, it’s a great way of getting protein in on this festive day. Whether it is the white or brown meat, there is no need to feel bad about going up for seconds. 2 thick slices contains about 117 calories, about 24 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat and 0 grams of carbs.
Packed full of Vitamin B complex family and selenium and Zinc
Not a meat eater? Your nut roast is great for Vitamin E, protein and other essential vitamins and minerals.
Red Cabbage
I love red cabbage and I often cook it with apple for my pork chops. It is often served up on Christmas Day and it’s a great alternative to Brussels if you aren’t a fan of them. Loaded with Vitamin C and just 1 cup of this great veggie will give you over 50% of your vitamin C daily intake for adults. Looks good on the plate as well!
Parsnip
Now personally I can’t stand parsnips so I always give this veggie a wide berth. Loaded with potassium and folate which are essential for cardiovascular health. Of course, they may be roasted, so remember the oil content, but many people mash them with the carrots for a orange mash!
Chestnuts
How does that song go? “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”. When we lived in Italy on the run up to Christmas, the vendors used to sell them in the streets, and they were really very popular.
Packed with heart and skin boosting fatty acids they are far better than the salty crisps we all grab for on Christmas Day.
Brussel Sprouts
Offer a Brussel to the average Brit and they usually turn up their noses to this wonderful veggie. Most of us have a love hate relationship – a bit like Marmite and I am on the side of the ….. Lovers!!
They are full of fibre and definitely are part of your 5 a day. Why is fibre so important?
It keeps your digestive system healthy and happy, plus fibre keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
Don’t boil them to death… Steam or roast them. Roasting will bring out the sweetness as well.
Finally Cranberry Sauce
I suggest you make your own…. Shop brought can be full of sugar and other preservatives.
Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI)
It's my last blog for 2021. Merry Christmas to you all and here's for a better 2022