How to stay healthy over the holidays Christmas and New Year are all about kicking back and putting your feet up, right?
But that can lead to what is commonly known as ‘The Christmas Bulge’ - which, according to Nutrition Australia, can result in weight gain of anywhere from 0.8g to 1.5kg. Most of this ends up around our belly, and this can lead to increased risk of contracting diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the long run. So, how do you avoid the dreaded holiday bulge and stay healthy over Chrissie and New Year? Tips to stay healthy over the holidays Try these tips to help you avoid gaining weight over the holiday season, so you beat the bulge and stay on track to meet your 2019 health goals.
If you are going to parties - and let’s be honest, they are nearly impossible to avoid at this time of year - try and stick to healthy party foods. These can include vegetable sticks, sushi, sandwiches, rice crackers, smoked salmon and healthy dips like hummus. Foods to avoid or limit include pastries like pies and sausage rolls, chips as well as any lollies, chocolates and cake. If you struggle to resist temptation then eat a healthy snack before you head out - try some plain yoghurt with banana. This will help you from overindulging.drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day - and more if you are active or outdoors. Get dehydrated and you will soon have a headache and start feeling low on energy. This is exacerbated if you are drinking alcohol. Alcohol can also lead to weight gain, and many people don’t realise how many calories are in their glass. A large glass of wine (250ml) has around 228 calories, which is similar to a serving of ice cream.
You should also allocate a designated driver if you are going to be drinking alcohol - so everyone gets home safely and the celebration goes off as planned. There are also taxis, Uber and the option of a lift home with another guest.
Celebrate the holidays with us! If you are looking for an alcohol-free way to celebrate the festive season then we can recommend a glass of Sparkling Cuvee or bubble tinged Sparkling Rosé. Dan Murphy called our Sparkling Cuvée, ‘one of the best examples of de-alcoholised wines on the market today, with crisp, refreshing flavours...and excellent length of flavour.’ We also recently introduced our Premium Reserve Range, which is made with the finest South Eastern Australian grapes and all contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Looking for a non-alcoholic wine for your festive season event? All our varietals are available online. Or check availability at your local stockist. Selected products are available in the beverage aisle at these retailers: