How to eat during Christmas

Health Dec - 18 - 2015 , 01:46 3 minutes read

Christmas is here again and as usual most people have made their plans concerning what to eat and what to drink. Also there are going to be lots of parties around town.

People are getting holidays off work and would have more time to relax and enjoy themselves.

Much is said about the Christmas season and food simply because there is in abundance, bad food and drinks.

I get so much worried as a dietician anytime Christmas approaches because people are going to eat bad once again. This does not have to be so. Remember that your body will not handle food differently because it is Christmas.

This article will delve into how we have to handle our food during the Christmas season and beyond.

Can there be Christmas without bad food?

The answer to this question is an emphatic yes. There can be Christmas without bad food. It is true that we mark all celebrations with food and good food for that matter.

But it is not a hard and fast rule that every good food must be presented with lots of oil, frying, made with artificial additives, fatty meat and creamy milk among all the popular ingredients that will be on display during Christmas.

We can all decide to cook food with little oil, lots of vegetables, devoid of excessive frying, among others.

Some health practitioners will advise that you can eat some of the bad foods but do so in moderation; there is a 90:10 rule which suggests that 10 per cent of what you eat can be bad food or unhealthy food and 90 per cent must me healthy foods.

That gives you some permission to eat bad but I think if you do 100 per cent healthy foods, the better for you. Just do the right thing all the time.

Smart choices to consider

When shopping, choose food ingredients that will help you prepare healthy meals. Plan to cook healthy delicious meals from natural and unprocessed ingredients. Plan to cook some fufu, banku, among others. Make it local dishes mainly.

Christmas is definitely not a time to stock your home with wines, beers, hard liquor and other alcoholic beverages. Fruit juice abuse is also not advised. These drinks are to be taken in moderation.

In the case of alcohol, if you cannot stay by the one or two drinks in a day; just abstain.

Fruit juice is loaded with so much sugar and has no fibre left in them. This makes them unhealthy compared to fresh fruits.

Taking too much of the fresh fruits is also not good. A little at a time is key. You can therefore stock your home with some fresh fruits instead of the soft drinks.

Food safety must be a priority

At the market only buy what is wholesome. You have the power to choose what is best so exercise that power.

Treat your ingredients right once you send them home from the market. Wash all vegetables and fruits in light soapy water before storing in the fridge.

It is not possible to keep perishable food items in the fridge for long periods due to the “dumsor” or “load-shedding” so plan and buy just a few at a time. Also re-heat foods left in the refrigerator very well before eating.

At the supermarkets, be sure of the expiry dates of the food items you buy. Check and be sure that these foods are wholesome before you buy them.

When prices are reduced, do not hurry to buy those items. Again check the expiry dates; most of the time, the expiry dates are very close.

Wash your hands well with soap and water before you eat. This should also be done before you eat foods that do not need to be cooked before eating; for example, biscuits and fruits.

To be Continued