For many, Christmas Eve kicks off the festivities. First its dinner, then Christmas lunch, and we conclude on the night of December 31st and New Years.
The risk of all this is that we end up consuming too many calories. Some small precaution though are sufficient to endure the feasts ahead. Professor Daniela Lucini, an associate professor at the University of Milan, and Head of the Medical Section of the year, as well as functional disorders in Humanitas gives us the tips.
Organize your routine according to the festive occasions
“People who are dieting will necessarily make some sacrifices, and more than others, to maintain the results so far. In general, you should prepare your own meals according to festive occasions. For example, if you have a party in the afternoon or have a drink arranged in the evening, for lunch you should reduce carbohydrates and opt for a second lean meat or fish and a vegetable side dish. This ensures a healthy lunch, nourishing but not too caloric, thus allowing a small exception to the rule in the rest of the day”.
Preferring quality over quantity
“My advice is to taste a little of everything. The buffets or at least the rich offerings of the holidays often cause us to fill our plate beyond measure, without actually choosing what is worth eating. We are attracted by the quantity and not the quality. Often, we binge of pretzels, chips, pizzas and maybe leave out the special dishes; You should instead try to do the opposite, however, with no exaggeration”.
Easy with the sweets
“Christmas cakes are countless: pandoro, panettone, chocolates, fudge, traditional sweets, nougat and marron are just a few very commonly found in our homes and in our gifts this time of year. Desserts should be eaten in moderation, enjoyed occasionally they can be pleasant, but it must not become a habit. A good idea would be to not keep sweets and candy on hand. Dont have them beside you while you work or while watching a movie in the evening as it increases the temptation and becomes more difficult to control”.
Beverages are often abundant in calories
“The calorie count should not forget drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic they have a significant calorie weight, which affects the overall intake. During meals you can drink mainly water and sip a glass of wine (or whatever you prefer)”.
Keep moving and exercizing in between meals
“Along with care for nutrition, we must carry out an active lifestyle. During the holidays you have to keep doing physical activity or if you are sedentary, you should try to walk at least half an hour a day at a steady pace. This will not be sufficient to counteract the excesses at the table, but at least it’s a good habit to stay healthy that you can adopt the rest of the year”.
