Christmas can be a difficult time to follow good habits and it also coincides with the beginning of winter, when temperatures are lower and we tend to eat foods higher in calories to combat that.
Dr. Antonio Abril Rubio, of the Hospiten Endocrinology Service, offers some advice to face this time at the end of the year in a healthier way.
Menus for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day.
Generally these are heavy meals, usually with high in protein, whether the meal consists of meat or seafood.
On the subject of meat, take into consideration that the meat with lowest fat content is usually pork loin or sirloin. When it comes to seafood, don’t eat too much if you have problems with uric acid – gout.
For New Year’s Eve, we must consider certain factors regarding typical traditions, like the lucky grapes – it is a grape that is high in calories because it contains a lot of sugar. Let’s not forget about drinking in excess – remember that 1 gram of carbohydrates or protein equals 4 Kcals, and a gram of fat equals 9 Kcals, 1 gram of alcohol equals 7 Kcals.
Kings’ Day
On Kings’ Day, after eating candy at the parade, we have the traditional king’s wreath, a typical sweet cake of a number of varieties, and high in calories. So, the recommendation is to buy just one and not have to eat it for days.
Other activities for the festive season:
At this time of year it is also a good idea to do some physical exercise, because as we have a little more free time, we should use a little to go jogging or to walk – it is a good way to unwind and keep the weight down.