The festive period is upon us, and it is one of the most exciting seasons of the year where we get to spend time with our loved ones, attend joyful parties and enjoy delicious food. As fun as it sounds, unfortunately many people start to feel anxious about how to cope with the holiday season.
Here are some healthy eating and lifestyle suggestions which we can consider during the festive period:
- Don’t skip mealtimes – Even though it feels very tempting to leave out meals in order to preserve space in the stomach for the later feast, it is actually one of the most typical mistakes people make. By the time it’s late afternoon/evening, the blood sugar levels will drop so low that overeating becomes an inevitable consequence.
- Eat your rainbow – Be generous with fruits and vegetables. They are incredibly healthy in supporting the body’s detox system, both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems. When it comes to fruits, use them to swap some of your chocolates and cakes.
- Stay hydrated – Water is a great way to flush unwanted toxins from the body. As we all know, the festive season can often involve too much alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic substance, making you pee out more water than you take in. To avoid dehydration, match every glass of alcohol with a glass of water. For flavour, add in a slice of lemon or orange.
- Move your body – The festive season tends to be mainly sedentary, with lots of lazing around. In between each meal, practice easy stretching exercises to stimulate the contraction of the digestive tract.
- No strict dieting – Know that you have the right to enjoy your favourite dessert and it’s more a question of quality, quantity and frequency of consumption.
This festive season above everything else, be kind to yourself. Accept ‘you’, exactly the way you are, whatever your shape or size. Embrace yourself as, there in no one else like you out there. Once we understand the concept of self, we don’t need validation from others.
Merry Christmas to you all!
About Yovanee Veerapen
Dietitian & Nutrition Consultant
Founder of NutriSmart Consultancy Ltd
BSc Nutritional Sciences Sp. Dietetics, MBA
Yovanee Veerapen graduated from the Faculty of Health Science at the University of Mauritius with a Degree in Nutritional Sciences Sp. Dietetics. She is also an MBA holder from the Open University of Mauritius.
Yovanee has been practising as a freelance dietitian since 2013. She focuses on helping people to create sustainable healthy lifestyle changes through mindful eating with a non-diet approach. She believes that nutrition is not just about food, but an individual’s entire lifestyle as well. She helps people achieve their goals through an overall lifestyle approach that is unique to each individual.
As the Founder and Director of NutriSmart Consultancy Ltd, Yovanee rejects all strict dieting concepts and cookie-cut meal plans. She wants people to be smart by bringing clarity to all health myths and jargons. After all, it’s all about YOU.
Contact number: 52508384
Email: info@nutrismart.mu
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Website: www.nutrismart.mu
Consultation Location: Curepipe – Quatre Bornes & Grand Bay + ONLINE
