Healthier Holidays: How to Eat

Here's another part of Trini culture that is uniquely...well...Trini. From various different foods and traditions, to that general Christmas air that seems to come on just as Divali passes (or sometimes even before!), Trinis love Christmas time, even those who aren't Christians (I mean, it is after all a holiday, and that's another thing Trinis love). Unfortunately, the eating often gets out of hand. As you know, this blog isn't about forbidding, but here are some tips that can go a long way in avoiding the New Year's bulge.

Turkey is your friend

Christmas and ham go hamd in...er, hand in hand, but ham is quite high in fat. A 100g serving of turkey contains about 1.6 grams, whereas an equal amount of ham contains around 8.6 grams: over 5 times the amount. If you really must have the ham (that's what a lot of people look forward to most on Christmas), try at least taking half portion, and making the rest up with the less fatty turkey. Your tummy will thank you later.

Goodbye gravy

Another bad habit that we tend to have is loading up on gravies and sauces...even when we're trying to eat "healthy". To put it into perspective, consider this: a 6" turkey breast subway sandwich, no sauces, contains 280 calories. Adding just one tablespoon of mustard adds a whopping 110 calories to that figure...almost half the amount of the sandwich itself (and let's be real, we like to load on a lot more than just a little mayo). The point is, we tend to ignore the added load of extras like gravies and sauces. Just a half cup of chow chow contains 150 calories, so be mindful of these add-ons when helping yourself.

Sweet control

I know you saw this coming. The fact that you did means you know just how unhealthy some of the traditional Christmas sweets are. The sugar in black cake, the candied fruit in fruit cake, the condensed milk in ponche de crème...these can be very high-carb.  If you must, try enjoying these earlier in the day when you still have a chance to burn them out, and limit your helpings. It will go a long way.

Go for pure spirits...if you really must

This is another Trini favorite...the alcohol. While I personally discourage its consumption altogether, I know it can be quite a family tradition for some. My advice would be, as always, to limit your servings, and to keep the following in mind:

• Beer, drinks mixed with soda and juices (like rum and coke, vodka and orange, gin and tonic) and creamy lacquers (like Bailey's, white russians) are very high in carbs
• Wines (especially dry wines) and champagnes are fairly low carb
• Pure spirits (like brandy, tequila, whiskey, cognac, vodka and soda, and dry martinis) are generally carb-free

This doesn't mean that pure spirits are healthy (alcohol on the whole does more harm than good to your body), but they are best if avoiding carbs. Again I'll reiterate, even better is having none at all.

Water is your best friend (sorry, turkey)

This isn't just a Christmas tip, it's basically a life mantra...hydrate! Drinking lots of water will help to control your appetite and can help flush some of the excess sodium from your body (after all that salty ham you just had). It can help with bloating as well, so keep it handy throughout the season.

Again, always moderate. You're responsible for your body's health. Christmas does indeed come only once a year, but you can still enjoy the season's treats without going over the top. What did you think of these tips? Think you can follow them through? Let me know below.

Stay peaceful,

Lexxie