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Healthy Christmas, is it possible?

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Healthy Christmas, is it possible?

Hello Vibers! The long-awaited Christmas season is finally here. These dates are synonymous with celebrations, family, friends, gifts, and of course, a lot of food.

It’s quite common to deviate from our healthy habits during this time, so to help you navigate this season in a healthier way, we’re here with some recommendations. Let’s get started!

Tips for a Healthy Christmas

 

This season features several notable days, perfect for enjoying food and company. To maintain the festive spirit while staying healthy, one of the best strategies is planning.

How do we do it? First, grab your calendar and mark the key dates: December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1, 5, and 6, as well as other important events like work parties or birthdays. On these days, focus on savoring both the food and the company, eating mindfully.

As you may have noticed, there are many days left unmarked on the calendar. These are the days we will focus on to:

  • Plan Meals and Prepare in Advance: Think ahead about what you’ll eat, shop according to your plan, and prepare meals in advance if you’re short on time.
  • Prioritize Vegetables, Legumes, Fish, Eggs, and Whole Grains: Aim to include these nutritious foods in your meals.
  • Have a Backup Plan for Unexpected Situations: Keep items like canned legumes, mixed vegetable jars, canned fish, frozen meals, salad bags, and frozen vegetables on hand.
  • Use Healthy Cooking Techniques: Opt for grilling, steaming, baking, or making purees.
  • Stay Active: Take advantage of opportunities to walk, such as when shopping, avoid driving for short trips, and use the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Engage in Physical Exercise: Whether at home, the gym, or outdoors, incorporate strength training, aerobics, running, stationary biking, hiking, or dancing into your routine.

Don’t wait until the end of the year

“New Year, New Life” – how many times have we heard this? One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to take better care of ourselves and improve our diet, often with the goal of enhancing body composition.
 
Diet plans started in January to achieve this goal rarely yield the desired results. It turns out that achieving significant and lasting changes requires focusing on habit changes. In this process, you not only learn to eat healthily but also how to manage situations that deviate from your routine, like the holidays. So, whenever the time is right, it’s the perfect moment to start—what’s stopping us from beginning to take care of ourselves now?
 
And if we told you that eating healthily doesn’t have to be boring? Stay tuned for the Christmas menu ideas we have for you!

Christmas menu ideas

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day meals often follow cherished holiday and family traditions. As mentioned earlier, these days are meant for enjoyment, and the key is to maintain a healthy lifestyle on the days not highlighted on the calendar.

However, during this time of year, we typically have more free time, making it a great opportunity to cook and incorporate healthy foods into our menus. Here are some ideas to consider:

Appetizers:

  • Zucchini carpaccio with fresh
  • Cheese and smoked salmon
  • Cherry tomato skewers with mozzarella balls
  • Vegetable crudités with eggplant hummus
  • Whole-grain toasts with carrot and walnut pâté
  • Spinach and cheese muffins
  • Brik pastry pockets filled with vegetables

First course:

  • Cream of pumpkin and turmeric with seeds on top
  • Ramen
  • Pumpkin gnocchi with mushroom sauce
  • Ratatouille
  • Feta cheese, fig, and cashew salad

Main course:

  • Peppers stuffed with quinoa and ground meat
  • Baked eggplant stuffed with textured soy protein and mushrooms
  • Sweet potato stuffed with lentils and brie cheese
  • Salmon en papillote
  • Pork tenderloin with vegetable sauce and pine nuts

Dessert:

Conclusions

The important thing during this season is to enjoy both the food and the company. Let’s focus on the rest of the days to maintain our routine by making healthy choices and staying active.

The holidays are compatible with leading a healthy lifestyle, and being healthy doesn’t have to be boring, as you’ve seen. Get inspired to cook some of the original dishes we’ve suggested and surprise your family and friends!

Don’t wait for a specific date to make healthy decisions—don’t wait until the end of the year to take care of yourself. Do you think our nutrition team can help you with your goals? If so, don’t hesitate to contact us!