Diets and Christmas don’t go together very well, but you can make this relationship become a love relationship, especially with yourself. The fact that you are on a diet does not mean that you cannot taste tasty and delicious dishes. The trick is not to think about what you can’t eat, but about what you can, and adapt your Christmas menu to your diet. What to eat at Christmas if you are on a diet? We will tell you some tricks to be able to cope with Christmas Day (and these holidays in general) if you are on a diet and a menu suggestion that may interest you. Take note!
Tips to overcome Christmas on a diet
It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either. If you have already taken the step of going on a diet, then keep in mind that if you do not want there will be nothing that can divert you from your goal. It’s all in your mind control and a few other tricks to get you through these holidays.
- Overcome one day at a time: don’t be thinking about what you will do the day you have a party, on each of the days that you will have to face delicious dishes, etc. Try to live day by day and overcome temptations every day. This will create less anxiety.
- Cooking – If you are going to a party where you are confident enough, bring your own food. It is the best way to ensure that your diet continues to be adequate based on your diet. Do not trust that there will be something on the menu that you can eat, because if there is not, you will be in a difficult position to continue with the diet.
- Always carry healthy snacks: It is not about snacking at all hours, but you can use a healthy snack as a substitute for cravings that arise, for example if you are going to visit a friend and they offer you nougat.
- Allow yourself a day off: One diet-free day a week can alleviate a little anxiety on these dates. But the day off isn’t about eating as much as you want, as you’ll only set yourself back on your achievements. It’s about allowing yourself to eat a craving, something Christmas that you really want. Treat yourself just once, without it being a binge, but savoring Christmas.
- Believe in yourself: It is what you have to tell yourself every morning when you wake up, tell yourself that you believe in yourself and in your willpower to continue your diet this Christmas.
- Ask for help: Don’t be afraid to lean on your family and friends, even a professional to overcome food cravings on these dates. Ask them to help you and understand the situation you are in at family gatherings. You will see how receiving their love helps you a lot (and maybe they will add to your healthy menu).
Healthy menu for Christmas if you are on a diet
- If you are going to cook your own menu at Christmas, opt for a light and healthy menu whose ingredients are suitable for your diet. Of course, it is important that your diet is carried out by a nutrition professional who has given you the previous guidelines to follow depending on the type of diet you are going to follow. Therefore, if any of the options that we propose do not suit your diet, look for another alternative that may go better with it.
Starters for a Christmas on a diet
We start with the starters, which are usually quite caloric at Christmas. Therefore, the ideal is to look for healthy alternatives to ham, chorizo and more caloric shellfish.
- Seafood skewers. Actually, you can probably eat some seafood in your diet, but you may not be able to overdo it (for example, if you are on a diet due to excess cholesterol, it is likely that you are prohibited from it). If you can eat one or two prawns or shrimp, one way to incorporate them without letting them taste too little is with these delicious skewers, very easy to make. All you have to do is roast chambray onions, peeled prawns, monkfish (or another fish of your choice) and cherry tomatoes (although these can be fresh on the skewer) with a drop of olive oil. You can spice up the fish and shellfish as you like. When you have it, make the skewer: onion, prawn, a piece of monkfish and finally a tomato. You already have some delicious and very healthy skewers!
- Tuna Tartare Appetizer – If you like tuna tartare, you can make a very simple appetizer with this delicious dish. Prepare the tartare, which usually includes chopped fresh tuna, soy sauce, wok sauce, lemon, chopped yellow pepper, chopped onion, celery, a little mayonnaise to bind and, of course, lemon to lightly cook the tuna. When you have done it, separate it into small portions and put them on a leaf of lettuce hearts. Sprinkle sesame on top and if you feel like it you can put some capers too. You already have a delicious, nutritious and very healthy snack for your Christmas menu.
- Avocado Anchovy Canapé: This canapé is very simple and it is delicious. You will need some canapé spoons to present it. You just have to prepare a guacamole with avocado, cilantro, lemon, very finely chopped red onion and a pinch of salt. And if you want to do it with a touch of spiciness, you can add a few drops of Tabasco sauce or chop jalapeño chili and add it to the mix. Remember to reserve the guacamole with the avocado seed inside so that it does not oxidize. Then, roll up an anchovy previously drained from the oil that is in the can on the spoon. Fill with a little cream cheese, creamy goat cheese, vegan cheese or another cheese that you can eat. Then top it off with some guacamole.
First dishes for a Christmas on a diet
- There are thousands of healthy options as a first course. The easiest thing is to opt for a soup or cream, or if you prefer, a salad. The important thing is that it is a dish with many vegetables and few carbohydrates. For example, a pasta salad is not the best choice if you are on a diet, but a rocket, walnut and orange salad is a healthy and delicious option. Try to make your salad dressing as natural as possible, avoiding mayonnaise and prepared dressings. On the contrary, you can play with vinegars, olive oil, natural mustard, honey, red fruits, lemon… all healthy and nutritious foods in the correct proportion.
- As for the soups and creams, try to make them vegetable. For the creams, instead of using cream or cream to give it that dairy touch that is always delicious, use a splash of vegetable milk. You will see that it gives it creaminess and a delicious flavor. If you are allowed in the diet to eat fresh cow or goat cheese, you can also add a little to the cream, to give it a slight cheese flavor.
How the main course should be if you are on a diet at Christmas?
- It is important that you avoid frying and opt for healthier dishes, that is, baked, grilled or steamed. There are countless delicious dishes with these ideal preparations for these dates. For example, baked turkey, salmon in the foil or grilled beef tenderloin. Sometimes the main dish seems healthy, but the side dishes that accompany it are not. For this reason, it is important that you pay attention to the garnishes and opt for light garnishes that do not unbalance your healthy Christmas menu: baked vegetables, green salad, cooked vegetables… To give them a touch of flavor you can make a sauce with olive oil, coriander or parsley and almonds or pistachios. Play with food to make delicious sauces. Of course, consume it moderately.
Desserts for a Christmas on a diet
For those with a sweet tooth who are on a diet, dessert is a test of self-improvement. Really at Christmas there are few typical desserts of the time that are suitable for the diet (if not any). However, once again, just because you’re on a diet doesn’t mean you have to give up a delicious dessert. We propose two ideas that you may like:
- Fruit skewers with dark chocolate. You just have to choose the fruits that you like the most, for example, strawberry, pineapple and orange. Prepare melted chocolate, which is bitter without sugar and without milk. When you assemble the skewers, sprinkle a little chocolate on top. It is a delicious dessert!
- Dates with nuts. Pit the dates and put a walnut inside. It is a very simple dessert that satisfies very well and is delicious.
We hope these tips and ideas help you get through this Christmas on a diet. Remember that there is balance in moderation and that the important thing is that you feel good about yourself. Your mind will be your great ally in this process. Go for all!
