Healthy eating during the holidays

Healthy eating can be difficult at any time of year but it’s especially tough around the festive period.

Indulgent treats are everywhere, combined with an endless stream of food offered at holiday gatherings with friends, colleagues and family. Many people also enjoy higher-calorie drinks around the holiday, whether it's hot chocolate with whipped cream or alcoholic beverages.

How to eat healthily over the holiday period

You’re not alone if you’re struggling to think of the best ways to continue eating healthily over the holiday period. Here are some tips to get you through the holiday season while still enjoying yourself.

Bake healthy snacks

Spend some time creating healthy snacks and desserts for yourself and the whole family to enjoy. Instead of reaching for store-bought treats, you can enjoy delicious homemade goods with healthier ingredients.

With homemade treats, you can control the ingredients, and favourite recipes can often be modified to create healthier versions, swapping out butter, sugar or white flour for more nutritious substitutes.

Go for lower-calorie drinks

Sometimes, the extra calories we consume over the festive period come from high-calorie beverages. Alcohol, hot chocolate, fruit juice and mulled wine are all high in calories, but because they’re drinks and not food, you might not even realize that you are consuming more calories than you planned for.

Switch out these high-calorie drinks for lower-calorie options if possible and try to alternate with glasses of water.  Remember, water doesn’t need to be boring! Use a beautiful glass and add frozen berries instead of ice cubes to your sparking water for a festive alternative.

Aim for at least five portions of fruit and veg a day

Try setting a goal of consuming a minimum of 5 portions of vegetables and fruit each day.  In fact, this is a great goal all year round. Add extra vegetables to your holiday dinner, make a fruit salad to enjoy for dessert instead of high-calorie baked goods, and opt for fresh fruit or veggies when you're snacking.