Hacks to make your Christmas dinner healthy without ditching the tasty bits
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The concept of dishing up nutritious snacks, wholesome puddings or a healthy Christmas lunch might seem a tad unrealistic - but if there's ever a time to concentrate on our wellbeing, it's the festive period. As winter sets in, so do all the seasonal sniffles and sneezes, putting extra strain on our immune system to perform at its peak. A lack of daylight can impact our mood and leave us feeling drained and sluggish, making us less active and more likely to reach for energy-boosting grub and beverages, both of which can contribute to weight gain.
The festive season also leaves a third of us feeling stressed, which drains the body of B vitamins, vitamin C and magnesium. We're not proposing a New Year-style health regime during the party season. But there are loads of ways to cut down on the fat, sugar and salt in many Christmas favourites (without anyone noticing), while incorporating nutrient-rich ingredients to enhance the festive feel. The outcome: a banquet that tastes incredible and is better for you. So where should you start?.
Roast turkey. Glaze your bird with vegetable oil instead of butter and avoid the skin to cut down on cholesterol-raising saturated fat. Savour both light and dark meat – they both provide muscle-friendly protein and potassium, along with bone-loving phosphorus, selenium for the immune system and B vitamins that release energy from food.
