Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat but that doesn’t mean you need to! It’s the most wonderful time of the year but I know many people dread about overindulging during the festivities.

It doesn’t need to be like that though and I’ve outlined 12 tips that will help you enjoy Christmas and avoid the guilt that sometimes comes with it.

Santa’s Coming!

So, do your best to stay within these guidelines and you’ll be happier than a turkey on Boxing Day!

1. Never skip meals. Ever. Make sure  you eat at least every 3 or 4 hours, snacking on nuts, seeds, lean meat and veggies as necessary. Small, regular meals will help maintain energy levels and mood, while decreasing tiredness, irritability and fat storage.
2. Avoid highly refined foods such as white bread, pasta, white rice, chocolate, biscuits, sweets or anything with added sugars. Hidden sugars are also included in many cereals, breads, tinned products, and processed or packaged foods. You’ll be better off by replacing these highly processed foods with the unrefined foods, such as wholemeal bread, brown rice, oats and rye.
3. Excess alcohol can also cause imbalanced blood sugar levels. Make sure you eat some protein or fats when drinking to help stabilise your blood sugar and never drink on an empty stomach as alcohol can irritate the gut.
4. Tropical fruits like melon, grapes and bananas and also dried fruit and fruit juices can be very sugary, therefore limit these as much as possible. Instead try to eat other fruit such as cherries, berries, apples and pears, which are less sweet.
5. Eat plenty of protein in every meal and snack. Christmas dinner is perfect as it’s usually accompanied with turkey. Chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are all excellent choices for the other meals.
6. Drink at least 2 litres of filtered or bottled water throughout the day, which can include herbal teas. Tap water should be avoided as the chlorine and other cleaning agents can destroy the healthy bacteria in the gut.
7. Include plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds to supply adequate levels of magnesium to your diet. Magnesium can be depleted in times of stress and we all know that Christmas can be a stressful time!
8. Few of us can cope with less than 7 or 8 hours of sleep per night, and those who don’t get enough sleep are almost always less efficient. To ensure proper sleep, keep regular sleeping patterns and ensure the bedroom is dark enough with adequate ventilation. Santa should be the only person staying up all night on Christmas Eve.
9. Make sure that food is eaten in a relaxed environment, and chewed thoroughly to promote optimum digestion and absorption of nutrients. As Paul Chek says “drink your food and chew your water”. Do nut rush your Christmas dinner so you can slump in front of the TV in time for that Christmas classic.
10. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed during this time of year then try and get out for a brisk walk on Christmas Day. This is a great way to calm yourself and decrease negative emotions like worry or anxiety.
11. Don’t watch TV all day! Most of us love watching Elf or A Christmas Carol but too much television is stressful and leaves you brain dead. If you’re sharing Christmas day with loved ones then make the effort to all engage with each other whether it’s playing games or just chatting with one another. Make the most of having everyone together. You can watch TV during the other 364 days of the year.
12. Don’t worry if you didn’t receive the presents on your Christmas list. The Law Of Reciprocity states that whatever we put out into the cosmos will come back to us in the physical world. If you have been generous at this time of year then you will be rewarded in more ways than you think.

Ho, ho, ho… so there we have it.

12 simple tips to make sure you have the best Christmas ever…

Merry Christmas!