This year Christmas is strange, different ... We must take care of ourselves and our loved ones and a lot! We can have sadness moments because we are not all going to meet, moments of anger because of what this virus does to us… Therefore, Christmas arrives and we dedicate ourselves to eating and drinking, because “since the moment we are living is bad, we want to enjoy ourselves!” On the other hand, it is a good time to enjoy these days more consciously, to savor the good things we have and to take care of ourselves I can give you a series of tips:

• Go shopping more responsibly, ensuring that they are seasonal, close, in the neighborhood…
• Prepare menus without leftover so you don’t have to eat them for several days

Here are some proposals for healthy menus.

Healthy menus for Christmas

First courses:

• A good cardoon. For example, cardoon with almond sauce.
• Red cabbage with pine nuts and raisins.
• Escarole with garlic, pomegranate and some prawns or mussels.
• Artichokes with White Tuna belly
• Meat, fish or vegetable soup and egg.

Any of these options can make an excellent starter.

Second courses:

• Fish baked or in green sauce (cod, monkfish, hake…).
• Roast meat (for example, chicken) accompanied by roasted chestnuts, roasted sweet potato and / or roasted fruit (apple and pear, grilled mango, grilled banana).

… In addition, for dessert…

• Christmas compote. I confess that the smell in the house when making it is comforting to me, because it reminds me of my childhood and all my family.
• Grilled fruits with dark chocolate.
• Fruits with whipped fresh cheese and dark chocolate shavings.
• Moreover, for the “key” days, some Christmas candy: but the rest of the days, we will try to avoid them.

General tips for a healthy Christmas

• Remember to avoid alcohol consumption or drink very little (the only responsible consumption of alcohol is zero) and sugary drinks. Above all, avoid combined alcoholic beverages.
• Finally, do not forget to do physical activity on those days. This allows us to keep anxiety at bay, in addition to increasing energy expenditure a little more to compensate for the days of “eating more”.

However, most importantly, don’t forget to:

Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy these days! Staying at home and with the people we are with! Enjoy health and the will to live!!

Health to all… let’s be responsible and Merry Christmas!

Dra. Arantza López-Ocaña

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