The year is ending and from Conservas Serrats, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a year 2023 full of joy.

In addition, for these very special holidays to be healthy as well as happy, the Dra. Arantza López-Ocaña gives us some nutritional tips for Christmas.

“Christmas, let’s eat!!! The world is ending!!!”

It sounds a bit exaggerated, but it seems that since the beginning of December there is already an open season to eat Christmas sweets (which is usually what “sins” the most), go making and trying croquettes and fried foods, so typical of these dates, company meals where you eat and drink as if there were no tomorrow… In short, that begins “this time is so bad to take care of yourself!”, as they tell me and as I notice in the medical consultation.

When the month of December begins, Christmas is already here… one “forgets” to maintain good eating habits, at least until January…

However, no, even at Christmas you can take care of yourself, eat as naturally as possible, little processed food… Not only to maintain your weight (which is also important to avoid gaining five kilos) but to make your body feel good.

As I usually repeat over and over again, the body does not know about seasons, days or times, and self-care is just as important whatever the time, since our health and illness do not understand days or seasons. That is why I encourage you to keep in mind these days to take care of yourself.

What nutritional tips can I give you for Christmas and these days in which large feasts are so frequent?

On the one hand, the winter season is a time of an infinite variety of vegetables, rich, tasty… In my opinion, the best time of the year for vegetables! Thistle, artichokes, borage, cauliflower, chicory, red cabbage, cabbage, pumpkin, endive… Therefore, you can always put vegetables as a first course:

    • thistle with almonds,
    • sautéed artichokes,
    • endive salad with pomegranate and belly,
    • Pumpkin cream with sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds with some prawns…

In this blog, you can find some very interesting recipes (starters, first courses, main courses…) such as:
◦ Prawn salad with orange vinaigrette
◦ Avocado with anchovies, piquillo peppers and black garlic
◦ Stuffed aubergines
◦ Stuffed zucchini
◦ Belly meatballs with chestnuts in pumpkin sauce
◦ Soupy rice with urchin caviar and monkfish

You can also prepare a rich fish or vegetable soup with some cereal.

On the other hand, as a main course you can make a delicious roast (such as chicken, poularde, turkey…) or a good fish along with vegetables (chestnuts, sweet potatoes…) and roasted fruits (apples, plums, raisins…).

For dessert, a Christmas compote, some grilled fruit skewers with dark chocolate and, of course, a little (in moderation) nougat, polvorones and other Christmas sweets.

Other tips for Christmas

    • Moderate the amounts of both food and desserts. Remember that you eat every day, you do not need to have leftover food to eat leftovers for the rest of the week until you reach the following celebrations, so you have to organize the menus and purchases according to the people who are going to eat on those days (you will save money and food).
    • If there is leftover food (hopefully not much) make use of cooking (vegetable and fish cakes, stuffed meat aubergines, etc.).
    • Moderate alcohol consumption. Better if not taken, but if not, drink moderately. One option is in the case of taking it, start meals with water. Then have a drink and try to last it until the end of the meal. Remember that the only responsible consumption of alcohol is zero Also, in the event that any of the people who are there do not want to drink alcohol, you should not insist that they do so (the same for food).
    • Do not forget to practice exercise. A good walk on those days is most comforting and healthy.
    • Except in the case of dinners (24 and 31) that always affect our sleep, you should try to maintain a good sleep routine on those days.
    • On days between holidays, you must continue with good dietary guidelines, prioritizing fruits, vegetables, legumes and steamed, grilled, cooked, without having to follow a “restrictive” diet or stop eating. Continue with the good guidelines and do not touch the leftovers (if they have been left) from the days of the binge.
    • Enjoy the holidays, have a good attitude, try to be well…

Happy Holidays and healthy year!

Dra. Arantza López-Ocaña

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