How to Get Through Christmas Meals Without Gaining 10 Kilos

Christmas arrives and the celebrations pile up. What is more, it seems we cannot celebrate anything without a meal involved, and not exactly a small one. That is why it is very easy to end the holidays with our figure (and our health) a little worse for wear. Heavy meals and dishes high in fat and sugar appear on our menu more often than necessary. Getting through Christmas meals without rolling out of them becomes quite a challenge, although by putting a few recommendations into practice we can come through the traditional festive feasts in better shape.

Let us be honest: at this time of year, routine changes and we abandon healthy habits. We stop doing physical exercise, eat and drink more than we should and stay up late. Extra kilos, heavy digestion, and rises in cholesterol and uric acid are waiting for us.

There is no need to swap sirloin, seafood and sweets for a salad. We know we are not going to do that. But we can try to eat a bit of everything in moderation and choose healthy options that help us balance things out. If this year you want to avoid huge feasts so you do not get a shock in January when you step on the scales, here are some practical tips.

Tips for surviving Christmas meals

1. Before lunch or dinner: drink a glass of water 30 minutes before the event. It will help reduce that initial urge to overeat and will hydrate your internal organs, which will be working extra hard during the day.
2. During lunch or dinner:

1. Food: A piece of advice we always forget: go easy on the starters. For main courses, it is always better to choose fish rather than meat, as it helps the digestion process, and grilled rather than with heavy sauces. If you choose meat, poultry is better than beef or pork, especially in the evening. As for the garnish, remember that vegetables are your friends. Finish the meal with a fruit-based dessert instead of cakes and sweets.
2. Drink: if you do not drink alcohol, try to avoid sugary drinks. Water is always the best option. If you prefer an alcoholic option, start with light and hydrating drinks. More of a wine person? Keep a glass of water on the table at the same time and alternate between the two drinks.

1. After lunch or dinner: it is time for drinks. Ideally, choose refreshing, hydrating drinks to quench your thirst. If you cannot avoid having a drink (or several), we recommend avoiding high-calorie mixers as much as possible (and no, Cola Light does not count). They will harm our stomach and internal organs. We also recommend having a glass of water between drinks to stay hydrated. This will counteract the dehydration caused by alcohol.
2. Before going to sleep: drink a large glass of water; it will help your body process the toxins consumed during the day.

If you are worried about getting through Christmas meals as unscathed as possible, put these tips into practice and tell us how you get on in January.