How to stay healthy during the festive period

The festive season can be a time for over-indulgence. From too many glasses (or bottes) of wine to too much sugar, there are plenty of ways to indulge in the holiday spirit. But what about staying healthy? It’s easy to get carried away with the festivities and forget about your health. The important thing is not to stress! There are plenty of things you can do to enjoy the holidays whilst staying healthy. All it takes is a some planning ahead, being mindful, making clever ingredient swaps and a little discipline. Here at Strp’d we have put together some of our top tips for staying healthy during the festive period:

1. Reduce your sugar intake: a sugar rush is always a nice feeling, but it can also lead to a sugar dip after the high. There are plenty of ways to enjoy sweets without overdoing it. For example, you can make your own healthier desserts using our Tigernut Flour. It’ll make saying no to desserts much easier, because it provides a naturally sweet, healthy alternative. Our Gluten Free Gingerbread Men make the perfect guilt-free dessert, as does our Vegan and Gluten-free Pecan Pie and both contain zero refined sugars!

2. Be smart about your alcohol choices: The festive season is the perfect time to let loose and have a good time. But if you don’t want to spend Christmas feeling bloated and tired, try to stay hydrated. Alcohol is not only dehydrating, it is full of empty calories. It can make you feel hungover or sluggish before or after the festivities. We are not telling you to stop drinking completely, but when you are tempted to indulge, try to be mindful of what drink you choose or opt for lower calorie versions. E.g. swap mulled wine for a glass of red wine, swap your tonic/sweet mixer for a soda/water, opt for a light beer instead of the regular full fat version. However, when you do choose to enjoy your favourite tipples, a top tip is to use smaller glasses and alternate with water.

3. Plan ahead: some simple meal prep can do wonders for keeping you on track over the Christmas period. Try making some of our delicious Italian-Herbed Tigernut Crackers, they’re guaranteed to stop you from reaching for all the nuts, olives and bread during family get togethers. They also pair wonderfully with our Chickpea-free Beetroot Hummus.

4. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet: on days that you are not eating out, or entertaining. This means no grains, refined sugar, dairy or alcohol. This will give your body a chance to recuperate. We’ve created a yummy Festive Granola recipe using our Tigernut Flakes. Make a bit batch ahead of time, so that you have a nutritious and high fibre breakfast on hand. Or if you’re feeling super fancy, try out our Antioxidant Bowl. Tigernuts have more fibre than oats and are high in resistant starch fibre, which doesn't get digested through the body, meaning it feeds your gut bacteria and keeps you fuller for longer. Getting these vital nutrients first thing in the morning will set you up for a great start to the day and have one healthy meal under your belt.

5. Get moving: during the festive period it can be tempting to spend all of your spare time lounging with friends and family. And we hear you! But, there are lots of simple ways to get your body moving, which require minimal effort:

   • Try to walk rather than drive to and from your destination

   • Do some light yoga exercise first thing in the morning or just before you head out for the evening

   • Have a dance around whilst you’re getting ready for the night ahead

   • Wrap up and take a cosy festive family walk in your local area to enjoy the Christmas lights

6. Hydrate: when you are partying hard, it is important to increase your water intake. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it will lead to dehydration and in turn water retention which manifests as facial puffiness! We recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day and you can also swap in some coconut water, as the electrolytes in this help replenish lost fluids.

Take care of your mental health: staying healthy during the festive period is not just about what you eat and drink, it’s important to think about your mental health too. Try to enjoy your time off work and not take on too many tasks - it’s time to relax. What’s more, try not to compare your life to what you see of others’ on instagram. Focus on yourself and what you need to be happy. Sometimes it can be hard to enjoy the holidays if we see them as a reminder of all the things we don’t have or an opportunity for others to criticise our decisions. Remember, the things that make you happy might be different to someone else. Focus on being present and ensure you do things that bring you joy.

There you have it! Our top tips to stay healthy during the festive period. Remember, the healthier you are during this period, the better you will feel going into 2022.