Eating healthy at Christmas, is there anything you need to think about? I (Helena) have started a Wednesday theme on food and health, and now in mid-December it is appropriate to talk a little about the food and pleasures of Christmas.
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Do you need to think about healthy eating at Christmas?
Every year in December, you'll see headlines in magazines and newspapers about healthy eating at Christmas. But do you really need to think about it? After all, Christmas is a once-a-year celebration? When it comes to food and health, the answers are never simple, so the answer is probably "no". But first of all, let's face it: How you eat between New Year and Christmas is more important than how you eat between Christmas and New Year!
Christmas and health
I have already mentioned that food is more than nutritionand this is certainly true when it comes to Christmas! At Christmas (at least when there is no coronavirus pandemic), people meet up with family and friends. Together they create great traditions and relationships or, in the worst case scenario, experience family fights and tragedies.
What I want to say with this is that the most important thing about food at Christmas may not be that everyone gets exactly the right amount of calories and nutrients, but that we should try to create nice and cosy moments together. Perhaps that is the most important thing for health!
Several aspects of Christmas food and health
What I, as public health scientistsWhat I like about food is that it has so many dimensions. At Christmas, food is all about making connections and memories - but this year, in the name of health, it's also all about not meet too much. Then we risk passing on the infection!
When we talk about food, we often think about nutrients and calories, but when it comes to buffets and Christmas tables, we may also need to think about safe food handling to avoid bacteria. The is also a health issue! Some things to think about this Christmas:
- Be careful not to spread the coronavirus at Christmas. - The risk of spreading the coronavirus through food is considered very low. However, the infection can spread when we meet. Minimise Christmas gatherings to as few people as possible!
- Take care of your food! - At Christmas, it's easy for a lot of food to be left out for a long time, and moved in and out of the fridge many times. Take out a little at a time so that the food stays fresh and no one gets sick. Refrigerate (or freeze) what you want to save for later.
What if you want to think about nutrition and calories?
While it's more important to think about how you eat between New Year and Christmas than the other way round, there are of course situations where it's good to think about it, for example if you're in poor health or know you'll be eating a lot of Christmas food. But why don't we start with the positives? Christmas food is not all bad. Here are some good things about Christmas food:
- Vitamin D - In winter, it can be difficult to get enough vitamin D in your diet. On the Christmas table, you can find the coveted vitamin in salmon, herring and eggs.
- Omega 3 - Salmon and herring are not only rich in vitamin D, but also in the fatty acid omega-3. So two birds with one stone!
- Vitamin C - You get vitamin C from oranges and clementines, but also from different types of cabbage, such as kale, Brussels sprouts and red cabbage.
- Healthy unsaturated fats - Christmas nuts are rich in healthy unsaturated fats.
Making better choices on the Christmas table
First and foremost, you should enjoy and appreciate the good food on the Christmas table! It is an honour to meet and eat good food together. If you want to make some good choices in terms of nutrition and calories, here are some tips:
- Take moderately sized portions - Savour your food at a slow pace so you can feel your fullness.
- Focus on 'real food' - Foods such as potatoes, Christmas ham, eggs, salmon and herring can make an excellent and filling dinner.
- Botanise among the vegetables - Christmas is not a time for vegetables, but you can find delicious and healthy side dishes such as kale, red cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
- Choose with care on the gift table - You don't have to try every variety. Choose the best ones carefully and enjoy them thoroughly!
- Take a long walk - Going for a long walk between festivities can be invigorating, and you may find you have room for more.
How do you think about eating healthy at Christmas?
What are your thoughts on healthy eating at Christmas? Please tell us!
You might also like:
Cheap and healthy - can you eat healthy on a budget?
New Year's resolutions and diets - about food and health in the long run
Healthy food - what does it mean?
Vitamins and stuff - should you boost with supplements?
Sugar - is it a poison? (Can you get addicted?)
Does food have to be made from scratch to be good?
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Ann says:
Yes, I definitely think you should think about it, no matter what day it is. Of course you should treat yourself, but if you exaggerate to a greater extent because it is Christmas for two weeks, there is a risk that you will feel terribly bad afterwards.
16 December 2020 - 8:45
Helena says:
As you say, there is a little difference if you party for just a few days or if it lasts for several weeks. It is important, as always, to find some kind of balance ðŸ™'
16 December 2020 - 17:23
Farhiya Hashi says:
There is no small difference, if you walk once a week you are less likely to risk getting dry indoor air and getting sick, while partying many times over several weeks gives you a higher chance of getting sick.
17 December 2021 - 11:06
Farhiya Hashi says:
Yes,I also believe that true.
17 December 2021 - 11:12
Veiken says:
Christmas this year is not like other Christmases. This year we're opting out of both fake Christmas food and people. There will be two of us. My husband and I. Christmas Eve will offer a sandwich cake, model seafood and salmon. Christmas Day offers a homemade saffron soup with cod, salmon and fresh prawns! Feels pretty good actually! 🙂
16 December 2020 - 10:29
Helena says:
It's certainly a different year this year! It sounds like you can still have a cosy, but different, Christmas this year! It sounds like a tasty menu 🙂
16 December 2020 - 17:24
Amanda (Swedish Passport) says:
Well, if you live a good and healthy life otherwise, it doesn't really matter what you eat during the Christmas holidays, so it's not something I usually think about 🙂.
16 December 2020 - 10:35
Helena says:
It is simply a matter of finding a balance that works for you and that you enjoy, and it sounds like you have done that! 🙂
16 December 2020 - 17:25
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
I like what you say about it being more important what you eat between New Year and Christmas or between Christmas and New Year.
I normally eat healthily, but at Christmas I skip everything and eat whatever I want. I love food, but I'm not a big eater, so I don't have a big packed lunch, so there's no chance of overeating, even if it's good. And not everything on the Christmas table is unhealthy either.
Thanks for nice post! Like your food posts!
16 December 2020 - 12:15
Helena says:
It sounds like you've found a good balance! And if you know you're not over-eating, it's no problem to eat a little differently for a few days. By the way, I completely agree, not everything on the Christmas table is bad! And thank you, nice to hear that you like my food posts! 🙂
16 December 2020 - 17:28
Ditte says:
I think a good balance is always important and we have it all year round. Have always had. I am not a fan of Christmas food so for our part it will be "a little" of the so-called Christmas food; ham, salmon, herring, jansson, meatballs, red cabbage and some salads for late lunch on Christmas Eve.
But you can eat this at any time of the year. And in the evening, fresh lobster and other delicious seafood are served with champagne...
Lots of fresh air and walks refresh and energise you. And I think it's important to do what you like and what is possible right now. (Ideally, we are away over Christmas but it will not be this year. But there will be a time after this...)
16 December 2020 - 17:50
Helena says:
A good balance is probably too much! and to start from what you yourself prioritise and appreciate! A healthy walk balances a lot 🙂
23 December 2020 - 21:37
BP says:
This is probably the wisest thing I've read in a very long time - "it's more important how you eat between New Year and Christmas than how you eat between Christmas and New Year"! I can totally agree with that.
Just this year, I think many people want to "go the extra mile" to compensate for the shitty year 2020. A little extra luxury food, for example. However, I hope they do it without inviting a lot of relatives...
16 December 2020 - 19:36
Helena says:
Thank you, it's great to hear that you appreciate the post! In a way, you may want to compensate this year, and it may be perfectly ok as long as you are careful not to spread the infection further!
23 December 2020 - 21:39
Lena - good for the soul says:
What a great focus! There are better times to think about how and what you eat than at Christmas. And there are more important things to focus on at Christmas. Cosy socialising in a peaceful environment is the best!
Hug Lena
23 December 2020 - 21:34
Helena says:
Thank you, I'm glad you appreciated the focus! When you say that you are a public health scientist and work with food and physical activity, many people think that you only think about nutrients and calories, but that is not the case. As public health scientists, we have a slightly broader perspective 🙂.
23 December 2020 - 21:41