The days of the holidays have arrived and the festive meals will have their honor!!!! It will be a good opportunity for all of us to get closer to our loved ones.

However, holiday tables are the standard dilemma we all face before and after the holidays. We cannot and definitely should not avoid them, but it would be reasonable to be more careful in our choices, so that we don’t end up with a heavy stomach, headache and extra pounds!!

But how can we keep fit these days without sacrificing anything?

First of all we have to make the decision to stay “active and healthy” during these days without depriving ourselves of fun and good food!

The following simple tips will help you achieve your goal:

1. Exercise in every possible way.
i. On the days of the holidays you will definitely go shopping, go with the kids, go with the kids
on foot and not by car.
ii. Use the stairs and avoid the lift
iii. Every opportunity you get to move around use the
saving time and calories.
iv. Light the fireplace, cut the wood in the traditional way.
v. Help with household chores.

2. Enjoy the treats of the days in moderation.

3. Don’t skip meals during the day on the grounds that “I won’t eat at noon because I’m going to a dinner in the evening”.

4.Before you go to a festive event, eat something light such as fruit and vegetables to reduce your hunger.

5. Start the evening with a light drink or soft drink and eat low-fat snacks (e.g. carrots, cucumbers) or small portions (e.g. 10-15 peanuts, not a bowl).

6. For the main course, choose low-fat foods (turkey breast is a great choice). Remove visible fat where you can.

7.Add plenty of salad to your plate (covering about half the plate) and fill the rest with meat and garnish.

8.Fill your plate only once and in small portions with foods you really want. Pick and choose if you want a little bit of everything to try.

9. Avoid fried foods and foods rich in butter and cream.

10.Accompany your food with light soft drinks, soda or if you prefer alcohol, choose dry white wine which is a healthier choice and has the least calories than other alcoholic drinks.

11. During the meal, talk to those around you. Talking helps to eat the meal slowly and thus feel the feeling of satiety earlier, without leading to overeating.

12. For dessert, choose a light dessert. Of the traditional sweets, choose a melomakarono over a quesadilla, as it has more calories.

13. Think that the magic of taste is lost in excess quantity!

INDICATIVE CHRISTMAS MENU

MORNING
1 glass of low-fat milk
½ cup of whole grain cereal or oatmeal
1 fruit or dried fruit

OK
1 fruit and 1 wholemeal breadstick with sunflower seeds

MESEMMERIANO
150 grams of turkey without skin
2 tablespoons of filling
3-4 small pieces of baked potatoes
Large salad with a variety of vegetables & dressing with a little oil and enough lemon or vinegar
1 glass of wine
1 fruit

APPEARANCE
1 dessert (gingerbread or quesadilla)

BRAND
Half the turkey from lunch
Half a portion of potato or stuffing from lunch
Big salad like lunch
1 fruit

Maria Vlahaki
Dietician – Nutritionist
maria_vlahaki@yahoo.gr
Member of the Union of Dietitians – Nutritionists of Greece (EDDE)