Keep those extra calories at bay this Christmas
It’s very easy to say at this time of year that we’ll worry about getting fit, losing weight or toning up in the New Year. The worry is that by allowing ourselves to become too lapse about our food intake, can create a larger monster to deal with in the New Year.
I’m not for a second saying not to enjoy yourself, of course life is for living after all, especially with friends and family at Christmas time. But what if we could make some very simple changes to a few of the food choices we make, that would mean we could still enjoy the food we eat but also keep the calorie count down. Hopefully you’ll find these helpful hints and tips a guide throughout the festive season.
Reduce the fat content in your Christmas dinner
- If you prepare your turkey ahead of time, then why not make the gravy and chill it in the fridge. Once it has chilled, the fat will rise to the top, making it easier to skim off but still keeping all the sumptuous flavours.
- Although goose fat seems to be a popular choice for roasting our meat and potatoes, it really is just as easy to make a crunchy potato with a lower fat such as olive oil. Per 100g, goose fat contains 27.7g of saturated fat compared to olive oil, which contains 13.8g of saturated fat (see be.fit blog on Good and Bad Fats for more information – www.befitbeyou.co.uk/blogs). Once you’ve part-boiled them, give them a shake to roughen up the edges. This will help them to stay nice and crunchy once cooked.
- Turkey breast is high in lean protein and lower in fat than other meats. Packed full of vitamins B2 and B6, which make defensive antibodies, there’s no reason not to make it a star attraction and pile it up high on the plate.
- Stock up on vital vegetables to fight viruses and keep colds at bay. Over cooking will destroy vital vitamins and minerals, so cook them al dente for a lovely crunch and tastier alternative.
Overindulging in high fat nibbles can take its toll on the waistline
Try to avoid the mounting tins of chocolate and opt for healthier choices such as nuts, as you’ll benefit more from their numerous vitamins and minerals. Brazil nuts are full of selenium and B6, which fight viruses. Hazelnuts and almonds contain vitamin E and calcium, which help with beautifying our skin, hair and nails and keep our bones in tip-top condition. Chestnuts are in abundance at this time of year and are really low in fat (2.7g & 170kcals per 100g, compared to peanuts at 46g & 563kcals per 100g). They also contain beta-carotene (antioxidant and anti-cancer), folate and tryptophan (aids a restful nights sleep), so stock up on these little gems!
And if you really must overindulge in those chocolates, it might be worth knowing that a Toffee Penny has 28kcals and 1.1g of fat compared to a Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, which has 48kcals and 2.6g fat! Toffee penny anyone?
Stay Healthy and have a fabulous Christmas & New Year!
