FAQs
When you face a spread of delicious holiday food, make healthy choices easier:
- Have a small plate of the foods you like best and then move away from the buffet table.
- Start with vegetables to take the edge off your appetite.
- Eat slowly. ...
- Avoid or limit alcohol.
What exactly should you eat? ›
Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice). Limit refined grains (like white rice and white bread).
What should I eat in a day? ›
Eating a balanced diet
- eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day (see 5 A Day)
- base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta.
- have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks)
- eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein.
How to eat healthy Christmas? ›
Try to fill up with vegetables like sprouts, carrots and peas (again, as long as they're not coated in butter) and go easy on the roast potatoes and parsnips, which come with extra fat and therefore calories. Sausages wrapped in bacon, stuffing and gravy are all usually high in salt.
Is it OK to eat unhealthy during the holidays? ›
"It is absolutely no big deal," she says. "I can promise one day of more indulgent eating is not going to result in lasting weight gain (or) derail any progress that you've made." There are, however, unhealthy behaviors that are common around this time of year that may fall into the category of disordered eating.
What to eat on holiday? ›
Plan easy meals around fresh produce and ready-to-eat ingredients such as cooked salmon fillets, cured meats, halloumi, a carton of gazpacho, new potatoes and good bread. Avoid lots of dry ingredients and condiments you'll have to throw out or cart home.
Why do I feel healthier on holiday? ›
It's true: going on holiday is good for you! Not only does escaping to an exotic location make you feel better, it helps you manage stress, improve sleep patterns, strengthen relationships, live longer and does wonders for your self-esteem.
Should you eat what you want on holiday? ›
Don't restrict
Even if you feel like you will—or did—overindulge, restricting your food intake at subsequent meals may backfire. “When you're in this cycle it's really common to restrict food to compensate for holiday eating, often by not eating the next day, or only eating something very low-calorie,” Goodwin says.
What is the #1 best food to eat? ›
Top 10 Foods for Health
- Water. Drink 8 to 12 cups of water daily.
- Dark green vegetables. Eat dark green vegetables at least three to four times a week. ...
- Whole grains. Eat whole grains sat least two or three times daily. ...
- Beans and lentils. Try to eat a bean-based meal at least once a week. ...
- Fish. ...
- Berries. ...
- Winter squash. ...
- Soy.
What is the unhealthiest food in the world? ›
Worst Foods to Eat for Your Health
- Foods with added sugar. Examples: Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, sugary breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt. ...
- Foods with added salt. Examples: Chips, pretzels, breads, crackers, canned soup, processed snack foods. ...
- Refined carbohydrates. ...
- Processed meats.
Nuts, seeds, fish, soy, olives and avocado are all healthier options because they include the essential long-chain fatty acids and these fats are accompanied by other good nutrients. If you add fats when cooking, use healthier oils such as olive and canola oil.
How can I make my Christmas dinner better? ›
To help, we've put these tips together with the help of our expert chefs from our kitchens.
- Organisation. ...
- Brine your Turkey on Christmas Eve. ...
- Have you got the right equipment for the job? ...
- Prep your veg the night before. ...
- Get your timings for the big day sorted. ...
- Keep it fun, get the family involved.
How can I make Thanksgiving more healthy? ›
Lighten Your Recipes
- Skip the cream. Use Greek yogurt or whole milk instead in mashed potatoes, creamy soups, and creamed onion or spinach recipes.
- Reduce the sugar. Cut it back by 10 to 25 percent in baking recipes. ...
- Add some fiber. ...
- Upgrade the stuffing. ...
- Be sodium savvy. ...
- Boost nutrition.
How to have a healthy Thanksgiving dinner? ›
Healthy Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving
- Avoid skipping meals. ...
- Be conscious of portions. ...
- Avoid running to the sofa after finishing a meal. ...
- Enjoy the moment, do not punish yourself. ...
- Mix in a few healthy alternatives in your holiday recipes. ...
- Avoid holiday shopping when hungry. ...
- Eat slowly. ...
- Think of color when cooking.