How to stay healthy during Christmas

Taking good care of yourself is always important, but sometimes it does get overlooked, for example during Christmas. For many people, these days are all about enjoying meals with family or friends, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, chocolates in between meals, a quiche for lunch, cheese and wine and a luxurious dinner in the evening. Wine, champagne or other alcoholic beverages are often served as well. All these delicacies can make you more prone to overeating, and less mindful of your health. If you still want to stay a little healthy during the holidays, we have some tips for you:

Stick to your routines

It is important to keep up your regular routine, even during the Christmas period. The Christmas holidays are filled with food and often delicious drinks. Your routines for eating, sleeping and exercising can sometimes fall by the wayside. It might be a bit difficult when your whole day is planned out, but try to stick to your routines as much as possible, especially during those busy Christmas days. If you have yoghurt and fruit for breakfast every morning, do the same on Christmas Day, instead of having pudding or pancakes. By sticking to your routines at least a little bit, it’ll be much easier to pick up your old habits again after all the festivities.

Make sure you get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your body and overall health. Try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. You will feel so much better when you do so, and your body will thank you for it! It’s also highly recommended to go to bed and get up at the same time every night. During the Christmas holidays, you may arrive home late or have guests who stick around all night, but don't worry. In that case, it's better to still get 7-9 hours of sleep, even if it’s past your usual bedtime. Sleep in a little and move Christmas breakfast forward an hour; it will do you good!

Wear warm clothing

Winter officially begins on 21 December, and around Christmas it can be particularly cold. Of course you want to look your best for Christmas dinner, but keeping your body warm is also important. If you have any outside activities planned during Christmas, wear thermal clothing and/or multiple layers under your Christmas outfit to keep your body a little warmer and more comfortable. Most heat is lost through your head and hands, that's why it’s always smart to wear gloves and a hat. Put on a good winter coat and a thick scarf, so you can stay warm during outdoor Christmas activities.

Stay active

Excercising and staying active is very important for your body. During Christmas, people often have less time for exercise, because of all the festive hustle and bustle, but there are of course different ways to stay active. It's really not necessary to exercise intensely every single day, but every little bit of activity helps. Simply combine fun, spending time with family and staying active during the holidays. For example, take the family on a Christmas walk through the city, the woods or the beach for some refreshment. A walk is not only good for your body, but it also helps to clear your head. This is especially nice during the Christmas chaos. After the walk, you can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of glühwein anyway, because after all it’s still Christmas!

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

During Christmas there are delicious treats all around, which is exactly why it’s important to eat more fruits and vegetables as well. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and fibre, which are good for your immune and defense system. Try to make vegetables the centrepiece of your Christmas dinner instead of a side dish, or go for a colourful variety of vegetables on your plate. The more colours of vegetables on your plate, the more different nutrients you will consume. We usually tend to eat more fruit in the summer, but we shouldn't forget about it in the winter either. During the Christmas holidays, you could for instance serve desserts with warm apples, stewed pears or cranberries. This way, you still eat your vitamins, but can also enjoy a delicious dessert!

Drink enough water

Water is essential for keeping your body healthy. Drinking water has several benefits. Among other things, it is good for your energy levels, your immune system and your digestive system. Also, sometimes you may think you are hungry, but you’re actually thirsty. Therefore, try to listen to your body carefully. You don’t want to overindulge in food just because you’re a little hungry. Drinking a glass of water helps to prevent unnecessary snacking. A small tip from us: place carafes of water on the dining table during Christmas breakfast, lunch or dinner. Add some mint leaves, slices of orange or cucumber to make it more tasty, and you’ll make sure that everyone drinks enough water.

Limit your alcohol consumption

Many people drink a lot of alcohol during Christmas, but it is important to be mindful of this. Too much alcohol can even lead to more stress, something you particularly want to avoid during the hectic holiday season. Alcohol can also disrupt your sleep pattern, affect your blood pressure and increase the risk of liver problems. There are several ways to watch your alcohol intake during the Christmas holidays. Choose a mocktail instead of a cocktail more often, say no to another glass (without feeling guilty, you’re not obliged to drink), or have a glass of water in between drinks. Christmas can be just as enjoyable without (too much) alcohol!

Control your portions

Everyone knows that feeling of overeating at Christmas, because everything just looks so good. From breakfast to dinner, you are tempted with snacks and meals all day long, but how do you make sure you don't take too much? One way to do this is by focusing on portion control. Portion control means consciously paying attention to the size of the portions you eat. It can help to stick to the following plate distribution: 50% vegetables, 25% protein and 25% carbs. It also helps to eat from a smaller plate, as you will serve yourself less, because a small plate simply holds less. Portion control allows you to enjoy all the delicious food on the table, but prevents you from overindulging and getting uncomfortably full.

Do not feel guilty

Finally, of course, feeling guilty is not good for your mental health, especially during Christmas. It is a time to enjoy yourself with your family and friends, not a time to feel guilty about any unhealthy choices. It really doesn't matter if you don't exercise for a day, or don't reach your calorie deficit goal. Being healthy is about long-term consistency anyway, not about perfection. Feeling guilty all the time can lead to stress and overcompensating later, which is also not good. By applying the tips above, you can stay healthy and take good care of your body while still enjoying the Christmas holidays. And if that doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world, you can eat healthy again later. Merry Christmas!