Julies’ Xmas holiday tips

Prepare and plan, or plan to fail?
On Christmas morning; eat a blood sugar balancing breakfast: Scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, avocado, mushrooms a few chopped strawberries. Add 1 slice sourdough or wholemeal toast with olive oil.  Any combo of these is a good start.

Make your breakfast count, it will keep your energy levels good and mood stable.  Super helpful when there is pressure getting your Christmas meal organised.

You can still have the treats; this style of breakfast allows you cope better when the unexpected happens.

Plan Ahead!
Going to someones home for Xmas? Share your dietary requirements in advance. Bring something you know you can eat (this makes it easy for you AND for the host!).   It’s no big deal, you look after you, they can look after themselves.   No shame here!

If you find it tricky being around sweets and cakes? it is just a few days, this is a celebration of sorts. We all deserve to enjoy and join in.

If you struggle to stick to one sweet or a small dessert, skip them and have a savoury treat instead. Like cheese and biscuits and grapes.

Alcohol will be available of course, have a strategy if you need one.    Keep water close by, drink alcohol with food, if you know it effects you quickly.  Alcohol on an empty stomach will hit you fast.

Consider staying away from mixers like tonic, cola, ginger ale. Stick with wine or spirits with soda water with lots of ice.

Aim to have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.  Most importantly make it fun, enjoy.

Overindulged?
Take 1/2 a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in water. This can make a big difference, the digestive system needs bicarbonates, and this can ease acid reflux and stomach upsets.

Choices
On another note, do you really need to buy loads of chocolate and snacks?  How about buying oat cakes, cheese, grapes and satsumas and apples and whole nuts as well.   I remember my Dad and Granddad competing to see who would crack the walnuts open first without the nutcracker.  Tins of biscuits and chocolates are celebratory; let the others indulge and keep yourself balanced with the cheese and biscuits.

You can do Xmas how you want it, it doesn’t affect anyone else!  Have a great time. Enjoy the festivities and here’s to a happy and healthy and prosperous 2025.