5 tips to eating healthy over Christmas

Apparently Christmas is just around the corner (can you believe it?!) and I want to help you be prepared for the “silly season”.

A lot of people dread this time of year, especially if you have been on a bit of health kick and trying to be healthy and lose a little weight.

Christmas doesn’t have to be a time to gain weight, I have some great tips to eating healthy over Christmas.

You don’t have to go without all the goodies, but a bit of sensible thinking and preparation can go a long way to keeping on track over this festive season.

Here are some tips for eating healthy over the festive season:

Instead of loading up on lollies and chips that you can have all year round, I recommend filling your fridges with the most delicious summer fruits that are around this time of year. Fresh watermelon and other summer fruits are in season, which means they’re cheaper at this time of year too. Every year my family has a huge fruit platter for breakfast on Christmas Day and then it is there to snack on all day. You can have mangoes, cherries, nectarines, peaches, grapes, rockmelon, watermelon and my all time favourite – lychees. You can get very creative in your presentation (just have a look on Pinterest if you need inspiration!).
If it is hot where you are – and where isn’t it hot on Christmas Day in Australia – then it’s a great time to get creative with some delicious salads. Now I’m not known for my culinary expertise, but even I can manage to make a delicious (and healthy) salad or two to go with whatever type of meat we are having. If you prefer the traditional approach to Christmas lunch, then once again my advice is to load up on the seasonal vegetables. We are so lucky in Australia to have such a wide variety of fresh produce available. Whatever you’re eating at your Christmas dinners and lunches leading up to the big day, try to make sure there’s a healthy serving of veggies or salad on the side.
It’s important not to stuff yourself silly. We’ve all been there, and we all know that pigging out only leads to you feeling bloated and horrible. You don’t need to eat a lot to still enjoy the delicious treats this season. Slow down, enjoy your meal and family time.
If your family enjoys special desserts, then once again, stay away from the stuff you can have all year. Have a nice Christmas pudding and enjoy the treat. If you make pavlova, go for a fruit topping rather than chocolate. And of course – a delicious fruit salad is always hard to resist. If you absolutely can’t get around the dessert, then don’t beat yourself up about it, just enjoy it. Once again it’s about portion size and not over doing it.
It’s hot – so make sure you’re drinking lots of water over summer, not just soft drink and alcohol. Also, if you drink lots of water then you’ll be less likely to overeat, which is always a good thing. Also, try making fresh fruit juices and smoothies with delicious summer fruit, as an alternative to soft drinks for the kids.

Every year I have friends who spend the month of December talking about what treats they’re going to bake and what they’ll do for Christmas lunch.

Make your plans, do your shopping, and then try and take the focus off the food by enjoying everything else this time of year has to offer.

Now it’s your turn – tell me in the comments below, what is your best tip for eating healthy this Christmas season?

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79 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 10 Dec 2023
    7:14 pm
9 years later and this article is still excellent. This season in Qld has been amazing for stone fruit, best peaches in years, so I’ll definitely do a fruit platter.
I have no tips, Christmas is my splurge time. I try to be pretty balanced always, then as soon as the weather gets warmer I kick it up a notch and have bulk salads and fruit.

- - ella12 said
  - 18 Oct 2017
    4:42 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 Dec 2016
    4:05 pm
Leave a big bowl of nuts on the table, for example shelled walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios. Put a nutcracker nearby and everybody will love cracking them open.

- - Kasey said
  - 28 Dec 2015
    6:00 pm
Not over endulge, have a small taste of what you feel like.

- - jenniw said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    9:49 pm
These tips are important to remember through out the year but it does seem harder to do things in moderation at this time of the year

- - mom160421 said
  - 29 Nov 2015
    9:13 pm
Eat an apple and drink a glass of water before a meal.

- - mom94125 said
  - 18 Oct 2015
    5:32 pm
moderation is key for chrissie

- - mom109229 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    9:48 pm
This was an interesting mini article. Thanks for posting!

- - merlin2012 said
  - 28 Jun 2015
    5:33 pm
Since having our first child I’ve become a real fan of fruit platters, it’s something that everybody can enjoy which doesn’t contain salt and is usually packed with vitamins
- mom94125 replied
  
  19 Oct 2015 , 1:58 pm
  yeah love the fruit platters also for sure.
- - curlytops said
  - 16 Jun 2015
    10:43 am
Just got to try and have self control and portion control as it is weeks of parties, events etc to the build up of christmas. have treats but small portions take one to try and enjoy and don’t go back for seconds!

- - kellstar said
  - 30 Mar 2015
    9:28 pm
Every Christmas I swear I put on at least 5 kgs. There is just so much ham, chicken, etc. We eat it for weeks.

- - rachkap said
  - 28 Feb 2015
    10:34 pm
Great tips and advice – thanks

- - priyachirag said
  - 31 Jan 2015
    11:00 pm
Great tips to follow throughout the year.

- - mom111362 said
  - 29 Jan 2015
    5:06 pm
you don’t have to finish your plate and drink lots of water
everything in moderation

- - GeoEllie said
  - 25 Jan 2015
    2:42 am
Wish I’d found this BEFORE xmas Will definitely keep it in mind for functions coming up!
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  26 Jan 2015 , 5:39 pm
  Glad you liked the article. You can use the information for any function. Good luck.
- - matildaspice said
  - 10 Jan 2015
    10:14 pm
Great advice, thank you for sharing!
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  11 Jan 2015 , 2:12 pm
  You are welcome. Hope you are enjoying lots of healthy foods during these warm summer months.
- - mom94125 said
  - 08 Jan 2015
    8:52 pm
i did induldge on chrissie lol. friends got me heaps of choccies
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  11 Jan 2015 , 2:11 pm
  Chocolates are always a great gift. Share them around and eat just a few at one time. Try and enjoy lots of summer fruits as well.
- - linaianna said
  - 05 Jan 2015
    4:07 pm
great tips thanks for sharing.
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  11 Jan 2015 , 2:08 pm
  Thanks, glad you enjoyed the article. Hope the tips were useful.
- - maureen3 said
  - 05 Jan 2015
    3:03 pm
An informative read with useful tips
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  11 Jan 2015 , 2:07 pm
  Glad you found the article helpful.
- - mom115210 said
  - 01 Jan 2015
    11:16 pm
Everything in moderation, drink plenty of water and set yourself realistic fitness goals and stick to them. Those would be my best way to eat healthy and stay healthy during the festive season.
- Leanne Shorter replied
  
  03 Jan 2015 , 6:20 pm
  Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.