Christmas has arrived with it’s joy, gifts, invitations, dinner and food! During December we usually go out with friends, colleagues or family for a few drinks or dinner to celebrate and have a fun time. Most of us have been waiting anxiously for this jolly time, but im sure most of you are thinking: “How am I going to keep in shape with all these binging??”
To mantain a healthy weight during christmas there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Don’t eat simple carbohydrates with an empty stomach: Bread, pastry, alcohol, cakes are all simple carbohydrates. This kind of foods usually contain very little fiber, making our blood sugar levels raise, turning all we eat into fat. A way to avoid a surge on our sugar levels is to eat some protein before having these kinds of foods. By following this advice your blood sugar levels will keep a little more steady and help your body out during Christmas.
- Eat foods with a Low Glycemic Load: The glycemic index is basically just a way to know how a particular food raises blood sugar level. Fruits such as berries, nuts, seeds and yogurt are all low GL foods that might help you during the holidays.
- Have a cheat meal only once a day: Just because it’s Christmas it does not mean you have to over indulge all day. Try to eat two balanced meals made up of one quarter proteins, one quarter complex carbohydrates and one half vegetables. Save yourself for that indulgent meal that you will be enjoying with your friends and family.
- Drink apple cider vinegar in the mornings: 20 minutes before having your breakfast take 1 spoonful of apple cider vinegar diluted in 1/2 a cup of warm water. Taking this as a habit may help you aid with digestion, control blood sugar levels, make you feel full for longer and improve your gut bacteria.
- Add foods that help stabilise your blood sugar levels: Elevated blood sugar levels can have an impact on your weight and your health, this is why it is important to keep in under control. There are certain foods such as spices (cinnamon), healthy fats (avocado, nuts, seeds), protein (tempeh, poultry, nuts) and high fiber foods (grains, seeds, green vegetables) that should be included in your meals in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
Enjoy your holidays, your family, friends and take a good rest. But do remember to take care of yourself, and most of all, relish every single thing you do and eat!
Bloomilycious 