Healthy Christmas Cooking Tips

Yes, it's that time of year again. You've got the Christmas decorations up, battled through the crowds of determined shoppers and probably bought gifts online this year too.

So, now you're ready to stock up on all that tasty Christmas food!

Here’s some simple tips that help you get through the festive season so your New Years’ resolutions won’t seem so daunting.  

Have a merry breakfast 

It's easy to overlook this important meal when the pressure is on to get the turkey in the oven. But we all need breakfast for a good start to the day, so when you and your family delve into your presents, remember to tuck into a good breakfast too. 

Try making your usual breakfast cereal special by serving it with pieces of fresh apple and pear and you could throw in a few nuts, or dried festive fruits such as figs and dates.  
 
Or why not add a handful of brightly coloured berries to your breakfast, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries or strawberries? You can usually buy berries frozen, even when they're out of season. Frozen fruit and veg, as well as fresh, tinned and dried, all count towards the 5-a-day fruit and veg target.  
 
If you're a muesli person, why not jazz up your daily serving with several slices of fresh tangerine and banana, a few grapes. 
 
You could cook up some scrambled eggs on gluten-free toast. And, for a bit of luxury, serve them with a 'mulled juice' from a cocktail of cranberry, orange and fruits of the forest juices – just warm up the juices and serve with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. 
 
Christmas lunch is served 

You could go for a selection of dips made with dairy-free yoghurt and cucumber, avocado and tomato, or puréed sweet peppers. Serve with vegetable sticks made from raw carrots and cucumber, and toasted wholemeal pitta or rye bread. 
 
Or how about a warming winter vegetable soup for a quick and easy option? If you have time, you could make your own soup such as butternut squash with a hint of ginger. 

Turkey and all the trimmings 

This is good news in terms of healthy eating, because turkey contains more protein and much less fat than goose or duck. 
 
This year, we’ve gone for a few different styles of Christmas lunch as we’re limited in number due to covid so we went for a rolled and stuffed turkey breast from County Foods and also some smaller individual Turkey Paupiette stuffed with sausage meat, sage and onion stuffing and wrapped in pancetta.  This is perfect for portion control as well!

Tasty Christmas veg 

Heaps of vegetables are another traditional part of Christmas lunch. Many people will eat more fruit and veg on Christmas day than on any other day of the year. And with so many different varieties to choose from, it should be easy to reach your five daily portions. 
 
At this time of year there are lots of wonderful root vegetables in season. And these can add lots of colour and taste to your plate, not to mention the vitamins. 
 
When you're cooking your veg, remember not to add salt to the water. Flavoursome winter vegetables are easy to make without that pinch of salt. 
 
Carrots can be roasted, boiled, or braised in lemon juice and olive oil. And parsnips are an old Christmas favourite, with their sweet spicy taste. You can boil them, roast them, or use leftovers in soup. 
 
Brussels sprouts are a Christmas staple but they're not to everyone's taste. Try making them a bit more exciting by serving them with chestnuts or almonds. 
 
Cranberry sauce is great for adding flavour and colour to your festive lunch.  
 
And who could forget the roast potato, a vital part of the traditional Christmas lunch? Potatoes are a starchy food containing carbohydrate, which gives us energy, as well as fibre and other important vitamins and minerals. So pile them high!  
 
If you steam your vegetables, rather than boiling them, you won't lose as many vitamins. 
 
If you boil your vegetables, you could use the cooking water to make the gravy and you won't lose the vitamins from the veg. This is also a good way of making a healthy gravy because you won't need to use stock cubes, granules or powder, which all tend to be very high in salt.   

Fruity Christmas pudding  

Another Christmas classic is the Christmas pudding, with its rich concoction of dried fruits such as raisins, currants and sultanas. 
 
But Christmas pudding isn't to everyone's taste. If you're after a lighter dessert, try serving a big fruit salad and make it extra special by adding some tropical fruits such as papaya and mango.  
 
Or make your own Christmas compote by stewing your favourite berries with plums, apples and cinnamon, and serve it up with some plain dairy-free yoghurt. 
 
If you want to avoid that uncomfortably full feeling, try to eat slowly throughout the day. This will give you a better idea when you've eaten enough. 
 
And if you feel full, try to resist the temptation to stuff in another mouthful! Take a break instead. 
 
In the afternoon you could go for a gentle stroll or cycle to help burn off a bit of that lunch.  

Feast on festive nibbles 

By the time you sit down in front of the television, you might be ready for a few nibbles.  
 
You could have a handful of unsalted nuts, some dried fruit or dig out that satsuma from the bottom of your Christmas stocking.  
 
Clementines, tangerines and satsumas are all rich in vitamin C.  

Nuts and dried figs and dates are good sources of a range of vitamins and minerals.  

Three important things to remember:  

1.     Learn to recognise and acknowledge your true hunger and appetite. Don't automatically accept second servings and if you know you have eaten plenty, stop.  

2.     While Christmas is a special time for being with family, it's just another day of the year when it comes to what you eat. Don't undo all the good work of the year by gaining pounds over Christmas and then feeling disappointed with yourself.  

3.     Allow time for yourself; don't feel obliged to attend every event you are invited to, if you really don't want to go, don't; just decline politely.              

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year for a New Years’ CLEANSE!

Be safe, happy, healthy and here’s to an awesome 2021.

Bx

More information about my meat supplier County Foods

Please check out their website for deliveries and opening hours for your Christmas meat selection and Christmas Brochure for Count Foods

I’m so impressed with their quality, variety and if you’re like me, I love excellent QUALITY food.