Nutritionist Aneequa Godart shares the healthiest breakfast to eat on Christmas Day, to stop you overindulging but keep you hungry enough to enjoy your roast dinner
Every family starts Christmas Day differently and has their own unique traditions to make the morning extra special. While some people choose to kickstart the festivities with a bubbly Buck's Fizz and fruity panettone, others are keen to wait until lunchtime to save themselves for the big meal.
But holding off from snacking might not be the best way to avoid a Christmas Day slump and afternoon food coma. Registered nutritionist and food therapist Aneequa Godart advises lining your stomachs before indulging. She shares the healthiest breakfast options to prepare you for all the socialising, cooking and present opening on December 25.
Aneequa told the Mirror : "Often people decide to skip breakfast on Christmas in anticipation of a big later in the day.
"However, as most of us eat our main Christmas meal at lunch or dinner time, it's a good idea to have a healthy breakfast to set you up for the day, stop you snacking on that box of chocolates beforehand, and to prevent you overindulging and dealing with indigestion later on."
Aneequa encourages foodies to get into the kitchen and whip up some easy eggs for breakfast, as a trusty source of protein and carbs.
"Combining healthy fats with protein helps you stay fuller for longer, think something like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on wholemeal toast," she said.
"The wholemeal bread also contains whole carbs which release energy slowly and keep your blood sugar balanced."
Or if you've got more of a sweet tooth, oats are always a classic option to keep you full and warm on Christmas Day.
"An alternative is a bowl of hearty porridge made with oats, milk, a spoon of nut butter for protein, and blueberries which are low in sugar," Aneequa added.
"This is full of fibre and slow releasing energy, as well as keeping you nice and full until lunchtime."
While it's important to feed your body at the beginning of the day, it's even more essential to stay hydrated amidst all the indulging.
"It's also crucial to stay hydrated, as dehydration can be mistaken for hunger and cause you to feel tired, and reach for the sugar as a quick energy source," the expert told the Mirror.
"If you're planning on drinking alcohol on Christmas Day, this can help flush out toxins and restore hydration levels."
What do you eat for breakfast on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments.
Aneequa encourages foodies to get into the kitchen and whip up some easy eggs for breakfast, as a trusty source of protein and carbs. "Combining healthy fats with protein helps you stay fuller for longer, think something like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on wholemeal toast," she said.
Roast turkey and ham are popular for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork or “seven fishes” seafood salad.
After eating, more blood flows to the digestive tract.To aid digestion, your heart and metabolic rate go up, accompanied by a slight increase in body temperature, making you sweat and feel more tired. To make matters worse, rich foods are harder to process, and alcohol slows digestion.
The feast, usually on the night of the 24th and lunch on the 25th, is a big one. The family gets together at both meals, and some have the leftovers from the dinner prior to the lunch the next day. The traditional offering for Christmas is sugar-coated almonds. Roast turkey is the most common choice of meal.
In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a must. In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.
“The winter season often involves more social activities, shopping and travel, which can disrupt regular routines and lead to fatigue," says Spelman. "The end of the year is often busy with work deadlines and completing tasks before the new year.
Instead of the usual child-like thrill of excitement that comes with the festive season, you feel helplessly overwhelmed as you contemplate juggling the festive chores and navigating all the bust-ups that will inevitably go down if the family descends, or maybe even a Christmas in isolation.
During the holidays the food we eat is often high in sodium, which increases water retention and bloating. Water helps to offset this bloating by flushing out that excess sodium. If you struggle to drink enough water, grab your favorite cup and keep sipping off it all day.
These delicious holiday recipes represent typical German Christmas food. Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage.and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.
Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.
Why not add a bit of stuffing or cranberry sauce to go with it? Turkey is definitely the most traditional meat for Christmas dinner and you can take a look at our wide selection of whole, rolled and diced turkeys here – perfect for your traditional Christmas dinner!
Christmas dinner: Many families celebrate Christmas with a large dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Traditional dishes often include roast turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and various vegetables like green beans or Brussels sprouts.
Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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