How to stay healthy this Christmas (and still have fun!) -

By Jennifer Davies, Public Health Practitioner

Christmas is the time of year when many of our Public Health messages go out the window. Not many people want to hear that they shouldn’t have more than a couple of glasses of wine or that pigs in blankets and bacon sarnies are off limits. We get it. We’re only human too! And I can promise you that we will be breaking many of the healthy lifestyle rules too.

So we thought we’d put together some useful ideas to help you navigate the festive season, whilst keeping half an eye on your health. Because half an eye is better than nothing at all.

Everything in moderation, including moderation

A spread of finger food including crackers, fruit slices, cranberries, dips and chopped up sausages

This is one of the best bits of dietary advice I have found, and I’ve found a lot. Remember why we don’t like diets? If you constantly restrict yourself you are more likely to binge and then fall off the wagon entirely and decide that you’re never going to ‘bother eating healthily again’ while you munch your way through a cheeseboard for two. Probably consuming more calories overall than if you had just allowed yourself a bit of what you wanted when you really wanted it.

Not to mention all the stress involved in constantly saying ‘no’ to things you would really rather have, and the guilt you feel when eventually you do eat a few handfuls/tubs of Celebrations.

I’m not suggesting anyone goes around eating mince pies and brandy butter for a week, or stuffing themselves silly at every meal, but I am saying – relax your food rules. Allow yourself to enjoy the food that you really want, and you may be less stressed and maybe even eat in a healthier more balanced way.

Raise your standards, sweetie

Fairy cakes topped with cream and fruit like cherries, strawberries, sliced apple, grapes and slices of orange or kiwi fruit

It’s hard to get away from all the festive foods and drinks at the moment. But if you want to try to eat more mindfully, then channel your inner diva and only eat the stuff that looks like it is absolutely delicious. Turn down the value mince pies going stale in the office cupboard, but enjoy your mum’s delicious homemade version.

Chocolate coins are usually pretty average chocolate and a complete waste of calories, in my opinion. Say no to those, but really enjoy digging out some of your favourite Celebrations before the rest of the family get to them.

And don’t just constantly nibble through all the Christmas leftovers out of boredom – save them and make a delicious turkey curry or pie later.

By saving your indulgences for when it will be really really worth it, you will enjoy your food so much more, and by turning down the food that doesn’t meet your new impeccable standards you will save yourself a few calories.

Stay hydrated

Some pretty pink drinks in tall glasses, with lime wedges, ice cubes and blueberries

We all know that drinking too much alcohol is bad for us. We all also know that sticking to limits is really hard at Christmas when we all just want to kick back and relax.

If you absolutely must just let rip on the Prosecco – please remember to stay hydrated while drinking and to rehydrate yourself the next morning. Alternating between an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic one is a great idea.

Buy in your favourite cordials, sugar-free fizzy drinks, or fancy grown up alcohol-free stuff – if it’s in the house and close to hand you’re more likely to reach for that.

Get some fresh air

A man in a winter coat and yellow woolly hat walking under some evergreen trees in a woodland space

Many people find themselves so busy, and/or so busy having fun, that any exercise goes out the window. Try to lose any black-and-white thinking when it comes to this. If you can’t fit in your usual gym class, a 20 minute shuffle to a Youtube video workout is better than nothing. Try to make sure you get you and the family out of the house at least every other day even if it is just 10 minutes walk around the block.

Even better, get your exercise in by ditching the car – need some more milk? Walk a child to the shops and back instead of jumping in the car. Walk to the park for a break with the kids, or even just try to walk faster around town while doing your sales shopping!

Make food swaps

A healthy looking spread of breads and roasted vegetables

There are lots of really simply food swaps that don’t take much effort but can really help to keep us on the right track over Christmas. Here’s just a few things you could try:

Don’t roast your potatoes in an inch of oil, but try an oil spray instead.
Swap full sugar drinks for sugar-free versions.
Try Elmlea cream or Greek yoghurt instead of double cream.
Choose lean cuts of meat over fatty bits.
When cooking with cheese, choose extra mature cheese – the strong flavour often means you can use less of it. Or try a reduced fat cheese.
Swap butter for a lower fat spread or a light cream cheese, or use a healthy fat like tahini or avocado instead.

Try a helpful mantra

A blue and white china tea cup filled with tea and sitting on a plain white saucer

Christmas is really stressful. If you can find a positive quote, thought or saying that makes an impact on you take it on board as your personal mantra. Sometimes they even make helpful comebacks for dealing with rude or ungrateful people!

Try some of these:

Aim for ‘good enough’ not ‘perfect’
Just because I am struggling, does not mean I am failing
Am I being kind to myself?
What would (insert inspirational person/celebrity/TV character here) do?
My track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%… that suggests pretty good odds I will get through this too
Other peoples opinions of me simply do not matter
Self care isn’t selfish

Stock up your medicine cabinet

A person sticking a plaster on another person's elbow

Just be prepared. No-one wants to be driving around Telford on Christmas Eve night desperately hunting down medication. Stock up with the things you think you might need in advance, such as painkillers, cold and flu medicines, plasters and indigestion remedies. Your future self with thank your past self.

Extend some goodwill

2 women walking along a field path in Autumn. They are walking with their arms around each other's shoulders.

A sure fire way to spread some Christmas cheer and lift your own mood is to do something kind for someone else. This can be as big or little as you like. Invite your lonely neighbour or colleague over for Christmas lunch, donate some items to charity, make someone a present or just take some time out of your busy day to sit with someone and give them your full attention for a while.

Do something nice just for yourself

A mug of cocoa and an open book laid on top of a soft, lilac blanket

How can you take care of others if you aren’t firstly looking after yourself? You can’t pour from an empty container, after all. You won’t help everyone else feel calm and relaxed if you’re walking around more frazzled than last years tinsel. Happiness is contagious, and the people around you will want to see you happy.

Be sure to carve out some time just for youself. Whether its a glass of wine and a book with the door closed for half an hour, a 20 minute run while everyone else is lounging in front of the TV, a bath, time to sit and enjoy your favourite Christmas movie or even just sneaking out for a quick drive while you blast your favourite music – there’s only one you, so make sure you look after number one.