Potatoes are a large part of a Christmas meal, yet they often receive a lot of bad press. But according to Jess Hillard, nutritionist from Warrior, there are ways of preparing them which can help to make them healthier and cut out unnecessary calories.
There are two steps, according to Jess, the first being to cut potatoes into bigger pieces. She said: “This will allow less oil to be absorbed by each one, keeping the calories lower.”
Secondly, you should bear in mind the oil you use, said Jess. She advised: “Rapeseed oil is best, especially instead of goose fat which is common for roasties. However, rapeseed oil has a high smoke point so is great for roasting and is lower in saturated fat than goose fat.”
Jess offered some other healthy food swaps to make during the festive period, one of which is to make your own food and drink.
Make your own
Making your own food and drink allows you to choose your own ingredients without all the added sugar and high-fat ingredients that often appear within pre-made Christmas snacks. Jess said: “We all love a cheeky canapé or two, so keep these simple and yummy with homemade hummus and veggie sticks.
“Mince Pies are also really easy to make, you can make the mince filling from scratch, with lower sugar contents. This will stop a rapid sugar crash, keeping you from feeling sluggish throughout the day.”
Protein swaps for chocolates
You don’t need to completely cut out the chocolate, because that is a huge part of the Christmas festivities, said Jess, but you can certainly make wiser chocolate choices. She said: “Instead of sitting in front of the TV or fire constantly picking at a big tin of chocolate digestives, you could try a protein-rich sweet treat, to help keep you fuller for longer.
“A great option are the new Warrior Protein Cookies, which are packed with 15g of high-quality protein and only 2.8g of sugar, making them the perfect healthy snack to see you through the festive season (RRP £17.99 for 12 cookies, available to buy from www.teamwarrior.com).”
Smaller glasses of wine
Sounds simple but it’s something that is quite effective. Jess said: “Simply swap a big glass for a smaller one.
“Research has found that drinking wine from a smaller glass reduces overall wine consumption by 7 percent.
“Larger glasses can often make you feel like you are constantly playing ‘catch up’, therefore more frequently re-filling, in turn drinking more. Make sure to drink lots of water in between your alcohol to ensure you stay hydrated.”
Alongside these healthy food swaps, Jess recommended getting some exercise in. She said: “One easy way to enhance energy levels is by taking a break between courses.
“This could be in the form of going for a walk between the main meal and dessert. Set aside some time during your day and go for a gentle walk as a family, or whoever you are spending Christmas with.
“Even a gentle 10 minute stroll down the road and back will help to re-energize your mind and get your digestive juices flowing, helping make more room for your later courses.”
