The Christmas period is often when many of us stop counting calories, relax and indulge in those tempting festive treats. This often means that when the New Year is upon us, we spend the first month of the year dieting and jumping back on the gym band wagon. If you want to avoid this dreaded dieting period we’ve put together 7 top tips which can help you make healthier choices during the festive holidays…
Picking healthier alternatives at Christmas is not about missing out; it’s about making better choices. We’ve scoured the web to find the most popular 2017 swaps, so you can still enjoy yummy treats without feeling guilty.
Swap classic ‘pigs in blankets’ for ‘asparagus in blankets’. This healthy alternative is just as delicious. We recommend using Parma ham instead of bacon and lightly baking the asparagus in the oven for a crispy finish.
Potatoes are a root vegetable but they do not count towards your 5 a day. Swap roast potatoes in goose fat for roasted parsnips with paprika – the parsnips count towards your 5 a day and they’re jam packed with vitamins and minerals.
Switch it up and trade honey glazed ham for smoked salmon – although the calorie content is similar in both foods, salmon is the healthier choice thanks to its nutritional content and high levels of rich omega 4 essential fatty acids.
If you’re looking for more healthy alternatives, read our ‘How to Avoid Winter Weight Gain’ blog post – we’ve packed it with lots of healthy tips and hints.
For many of us, Christmas is a time of year where we drink more than we normally do. Events, work dos and family gatherings often result in a ‘merry’ time. We always recommend you drink responsibly, but you can also make better choices when it comes to the drinks you choose, in order to save calories.
Choose diet mixers, tonic water or soda water – don’t waste calories on mixers, swap for low calorie options.
Avoid sugary cocktails! Many popular options like mojitos and cosmopolitans often contain sugar or sugar syrup. Instead, pick drinks with citrus and no syrup; you’ll save calories and might find a new favourite.
Choose red wine – a glass of red has a high concentration of antioxidants and is likely to have fewer calories than sugary cocktails.
We can often be pressure to drink more during the Christmas period, but remember to always drink responsibly and give your body time to recover.
What’s a Turkey’s best friend? Cranberries! Cranberries are full of antioxidants and lower bad cholesterol – so remember to stock up on them when dinner time rolls around. Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots also feature heavily in Christmas dinners, make sure to take advantage of these and tuck in. Brussels sprouts are an impressive super-food; they contain more glucosinolates than any other common crucifer - these natural components have been found to reduce the risk of cancer.
Read our ‘Health benefits of super-foods’ blog post to learn more about the impressive well-being improvements…
Making sure you’re as healthy as possible during the festive season and on Christmas day is great for your long-term well-being, but you aren’t to know what’s around the corner in terms of illnesses that are out of your control. Health insurance cover for 2018 is a great way to ensure you’re going to receive the best care, if anything unexpected affects your health.
Here at THIS, We're able to get you the best deals with some of the UK's leading health insurance providers. We provide for all health insurance policy types - whether you’re looking for health insurance for your family, employees or yourself; we’re devoted to finding you the finest policy, for the right price. Get your free, no obligation health insurance quote here. Alternatively, call us (free) on 0808 10 18 999 to speak with a friendly member of our team.
