Enjoy a balanced Christmas and start 2017 bursting with positive energy

Once again the holidays are approaching. We are going to give you with some simple guidelines that you can easily follow so that the celebrations do not get in the way of your healthy habits.

Advice for a healthy diet at Christmas

• Don’t stop moving: you may not be able to get to the gym, but that does not mean that you can’t go out for a walk, a run or meet some friends for a game of paddle.

• Don’t take out the sweet things out until Christmas Eve: even though they can be seen in supermarkets from the beginning of November, it’s better if you save them for the special days as they have a lot of calories.

• Try to eat more fruit and vegetables, as they will provide you with water and help clean your body. Try to add a piece of fruit at breakfast, another mid-morning and a third for dessert at mealtimes.

• Make the most of seasonal vegetables: make butternut squash cream soup, spinach cream soup, sautéed Swiss chards, cardoon with potatoes or baked artichokes. You can use the vegetable stock and have it before meals as it is calming, speeds up intestinal transit and eliminates toxins.

• After all the feasting on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, the digestive system needs a break. Don’t fast the day after because that will only put your metabolism out of synch. Just follow a clean diet and one that is easy to digest. Have fruit and a bowl of muesli for breakfast, salad and grilled chicken for lunch and vegetable purée with a French omelette for dinner.

• Have a purifying infusion to help prevent fluid retention and help prevent the accumulation of gas, such as horsetail, camomile, thyme or green tea.

• Plan the rest of your daily menus, apart from just those for the holidays. You will then be able to make up for any missing nutrients and vary your diet. Remember that it is always better to eat five or six times a day and take smaller portions to keep your body busy getting energy.

Exercises to keep in shape at Christmas

If you do not have time to go out for a walk, go running or hill climbing, you can do this workout at home:

1. Warm up for 10 minutes, walking on the same spot or dancing to a couple of songs.

2. Start with a series of 50 squats, with your legs slightly apart and your back straight.

3. Lying face up, raise your legs together to form a right angle. Breathe in and raise your shoulders, breathe out and lower them without touching the floor. Repeat 50 times.

4. End up with a planche press up for a minute. Face down, hold your body weight with your forearms and the tips of your toes. When you finish, stretch all the muscles and joints and… you’re done.

If you take things in moderation, you will have a very happy holiday. When January comes, you will still be in shape and full of energy and your body will be all set for an incredible new year.

This post is also available in: Italian